Dubai 2003 General Co ordinator heads delegation to Germany

The activity is part of the ongoing programme by Dubai 2003 to raise international awareness of the opportunities posed by the 58th Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund. In association with Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing there will be a Dubai 2003 promotional stand at the four-day ITB 2003 tourism conference.

During the visit Mr. Belselah will also meet representatives of the German Federal Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the President of the Berlin Office of the German Central Bank, the Deutsche Bundesbank and co-host a reception with the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Germany, His Excellency Mr. Ali Mohammed Al Zarouni. A media briefing will also be held at the Embassy.

Dubai 2003 has been established to host the 58th Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund under the leadership and guidance of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and Industry and Chairman of Dubai 2003.

Commenting on the visit Mr. Belselah said: "The five-day mission to Berlin is another important step in our strategy for Dubai 2003 to help promote the UAE as a world-class place for international inward investment opportunities. Germany remains one of the world's most important financial and business centers and Dubai 2003 will take advantage of these meetings to showcase the UAE to Government and banking officials there."

Germany is also home to one of Dubai 2003's partners, the automotive giant Audi who is supplying 260 luxury A8 limousines to transport senior Government Ministers and officials attending the meetings in September 2003.

Mr. Belselah added that the meetings and presence in Germany will play an important part in shaping a positive perception of the UAE as a dynamic and sophisticated business location as the UAE prepares to host the Annual Meetings.

The Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund were first held in Washington DC in 1946. They are hosted by an international city one year in three. Dubai and the UAE were selected because of its highly developed transportation and logistics infrastructure, growing importance as a financial hub and its established position as an oasis of opportunity.