Spanish Embassy to host Business Forum

• For this motive, the Economic and Commercial Office of Spain in UAE, the Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade (ICEX) and the Spanish Confederation of Entrepreneurial Organizations (CEOE), together with important Emirati authorities and institutions, are organising a Business Forum in Abu Dhabi on the 25th of May in which a big number of companies of both countries will meet.

• Major representation during this Business Forum will be that from the following sectors: construction, infrastructures, energy, water and electricity, railways, air transport and banking.

• The main objective of this Business Forum is to enhance the knowledge regarding the Spanish exports and the Economic and Technological development of Spain, a country that has sustained 15 years of continuous economic growth, having become the world´s eighth largest industrial power.

The Business Forum will be held at the Emirates Palace Hotel, and presided by H.M. the King Juan Carlos I of Spain, who will be accompanied by Mr Miguel Sebastián, the Spanish Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism.

The meeting is aimed at projecting Spain as a foreign investor, with a high degree of liberalization in its economy and a remarkable economic and technological development.

UAE is a key regional player, an economic partner which offers full potential for development, especially in sectors where the Spanish companies are in an advanced stage of international expertise, knowledge and technical capabilities.

Spain is keen to have a higher economic profile in the Gulf region, and UAE, with its business-friendly environment and its opened economy and mentality, is the perfect point of entry.

The commercial relations between both countries have been growing steadily in the last years, with total figures that stand at $1.13bn in 2006, and $1.32bn in 2007.

During these two days of the Forum, the business delegations of the two countries will have the opportunity to know the economic and business reality of Spain and UAE, as well as to test the existing business and investment opportunities.

Aside from this big Business Forum, a business workshop will be held at Dubai´s Monarch Hotel on the 26th of May, with a smaller and more restricted number of Spanish and local companies involved.