DCCI receives Minister of Industry and Trade of South Australia

The meeting discussed the ways of enhancing the distinguished trade relations between Australia and the UAE in general, Dubai in particular, through the increase of trade exchange and setting up bilateral enterprises in both countries which would help contribute to the support of commercial cooperation between Dubai and Australia.

Al Mutaiwee welcomed the Australian Minister of Industry and Trade highlighting the significance of this visit in enhancing the bilateral economic cooperation between Dubai and South Australia under the umbrella of the Dubai Chamber which plays a key role in supporting the trade ties between the business community in Dubai and its counterparts in Australia, through providing a range of outstanding commercial services which contribute to the growth of their activities and support the local economy.

"The economic relations between the UAE and Australia are quite strong and remarkable, and the visit of one of the top government officials from South Australia to the DCCI reflects the importance of communication between the business communities in Dubai and South Australia," said Al Mutaiwee.

"The Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which is soon to be signed between the UAE and Australia, would help open new channels of effective trade cooperation between all Australia's states and the UAE," he added.

The DCCI's director general stressed that the air flights connecting Dubai to all the Australian states and cities reached 39 flights a week, and that reflects the deep and strong ties between both countries and the outstanding volume of bilateral business trade and tourism.

"There is an amazing similarity between the UAE and Australia in terms of that both countries are working hard to develop their economies and revive the trade exchange. We are looking forward to achieving better results of cooperation especially with the facilitation of visas procedures," Al Mutaiwee added.

His Excellency Paul Holloway, the Minister of Industry and Trade of the Government of South Australia, stressed his government's interest over activating the bilateral cooperation with Dubai due to its rapidly growing economy on all fronts, in addition to the gigantic economic enterprises which are carried out in Dubai, encouraging businessmen and investors in Australia to come and set up new projects.

"We look forward to activating commercial cooperation between Dubai and South Australia through inviting our businessmen to visit Dubai and be introduced to the investment opportunities available in Dubai and the sorts of projects they may set up here," said Mr Holloway.

He invited Dubai Chamber and its members to visit his country and be introduced to its economic activities and discuss the possibility of attracting more businessmen and investors from the UAE to invest in South Australia, especially in the field of information technology and the technology of using water resources to combat desertification.

Dubai's total foreign non-oil trade with Australia reached AED 3.1 billion in 2004 (US Dollar 820.1 million). Dubai's total imports from Australia in 2004 reached AED 2.8 billion (US Dollar 769.9 million), while Dubai's total exports to Australia in the same year reached AED 114.8 million (US Dollar 31.2 million), and Dubai's total re-exports to Australia in 2004 reached AED 69.4 million (US Dollar 18.9 million).