UAE-German Partnership Forum

Dubai Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), will target leading German companies from key industrial sectors at the UAE-German Economic Partnership Forum to be held in Essen, Germany from May 11 to 13.

The forum will focus on cooperation between UAE and Germany in core areas such as information technology, industrial joint ventures, transfer of technology, construction, infrastructure development, health services and finance. It is being jointly organised by PCFC, Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing.

Mahmood Saleh, Executive Director of Shared Services & Secretary General of The Corporate Office, who will be representing PCFC at the forum, said, 'This forum will be an ideal platform to effectively promote UAE on an international scale.

'We hope to attract a number of top German companies involved in manufacturing, information technology, trading, banking, health care and real estate to set up operations in the UAE.

'The strategic location of UAE between Europe and Asia and our proximity to markets in Central Asia, Indian subcontinent and Africa will also be an influencing factor for German companies to come to UAE.

'The German economy is among the largest economies of the world backed by their strength in technology, medicine, manufacturing and the overall quality of their products and services. This forum will further enhance the mutually beneficial and supportive relationship shared between UAE and Germany.'

Some of UAE's participants in the event will comprise of Abu Dhabi, Fujairah and Sharjah government bodies in addition to the Germany's official supporters: Federal Ministry of Economics & Labour, Ministry of Economic Affairs & Labour and GfW Nordrhein-Westfalen Global Business Partner.

The UAE delegation will highlight main characteristics of the country's business environment such as stable economy, tax free environment, low import duties, free transfer of currency, internationally competitive IT, manufacturing, trade and financial services free zones and world class infrastructure facilities including the sea ports, airports, communication system and the highly developed road network.

Essen serves as an ideal location to host an important forum of this nature due to its favourable location in the geographical center of the large European region. The city is a hub for major industrial sectors like telecommunication, information technology, e-business and security.

The UAE-German Economic Partnership Forum is part of a strategic campaign to target international investors. Thus, this event is a stepping-stone for the UAE - Italy Economic Partnership Forum in June and Dubai - Osaka Economic Partnership Forum in December 2005.

'The forum will help us reinforce Dubai's image not only as a leading tourist destination but also as an international business hub, providing all the required infrastructure and resources to flourish in a competitive market environment,' concluded Saleh.