Dubai Chamber begins preparations for the Dubai-Hamburg Business Forum 2008

Encouraged by the overwhelming response to the first round of the business forum held in Dubai last October where businessmen from both Dubai and Hamburg worked on ways to enhance mutual cooperation and to explore more business opportunities and activities, the forthcoming December 18-19 Forum is seen as an extended opportunity to review and understand the thriving business cultures and the endless scope of establishing newer partnerships between the two cities and their respective countries.

The 50-member Dubai business delegation inclusive of speakers on various subjects like Logistics and Foreign Trade, Banking and Finance, Energy, Healthcare and Media and IT, will be led by HE Hisham Abdullah Al Shirawi, 2nd Vice Chairman along with a number of Board Members and the Director General of Dubai Chamber. Dubai and Hamburg Chambers will also be signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the occasion.

HE Eng Hamad Buamim, Director General, Dubai Chamber said:

"This follow-up Forum is very important for both the sides as it comes as a supportive initiative to the first joint business forum held in Dubai. It's here that the business people can further solidify their bilateral cooperation ties established earlier and look forward to discussing newer areas of joint ventures and business opportunities available in abundance in both the economically thriving cities of the world."

Buamim also pointed out that both the vibrant cities that acted as an important trading and logistics hubs for their respective regions have a lot in common and can work jointly in many mutual areas of interest and learn from each others' expertise. Both parties will also get a chance to discuss ways of benefiting from the available investment opportunities in Dubai and Hamburg.

Germany is the third largest economy in the world and the biggest in Europe. This European industrial giant is the biggest strategic partner to the UAE as there are five German trading representative centers operating in the UAE, as well as the German Business Council which is one of the most active business councils operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chamber. There are 511 German companies operating in Dubai as Dubai's non-oil trade with Germany reached Dhs28bn in 2007.