DCCI announces the launch of the Spanish Business Council

The new council's launching ceremony, held at the Dacca's premises, was attended by Mr. Abdul Rahman Ghanem Al Mutaiwee, Director General of the DCCI, His Excellency Manuel Pineiro Scouto, the Spanish Ambassador to the UAE, Mr. Valentin Laiseca, Spanish Commercial and Economic Counseller in the Spanish Embassy in the UAE, Mr. Miguel Silva Constenla, president of the Spanish Business Council, Mr. Arturo Manso, Vice-president of the council, and Mr. Mohammed Hassan Al Khatib, Business Development Manager at the DCCI.

In his speech, Al Mutaiwee stressed the strong historical and economic relationships between the UAE and Spain, pointing out the importance of setting up the Spanish Business Council in Dubai to serve and protect the interests of Spanish businessmen working in the UAE in general, Dubai in particular, and to help enhance their relations with the business community in Dubai.

"The launch of the new Spanish Business Council is a significant initiative that would help enhance the strategic partnership ties between the UAE and Spain, and we expect the new council to act effectively on developing the activities of the Spanish companies operating in Dubai which in turn contributes to the strengthening of the trade ties between businessmen in both countries," said Al Mutaiwee.

He pointed out that the DCCI supervises a total of 34 business councils and 18 business groups that all together reflect the economic growth in Dubai, in addition to its contribution in facilitating the trade between Dubai and the countries to which the councils belong.

"We are confident that Dubai and Spain can achieve stronger economic and trade relations, as Dubai provides investors with a competitive package of investment facilities enjoying a stable economic policy with the absence of all sorts of taxes on personal and corporate incomes," said Al Mutaiwee.

He also highlighted the importance of increasing the number of direct flights between Dubai and most of the Spanish cities due to its efficiency in facilitating the mutual visits of trade delegations and increasing the trade exchange volume between Dubai and Spain.

Al Mutaiwee noted that Dubai's total foreign non-oil trade with Spain has remarkably increased in the past few years surging to AED 1.5 billion up to the end of 2004.

He urged the founders of the new Spanish Business Council to help in enhancing the bilateral trade cooperation between the businessmen in Dubai and Spain, as the signing on major economic agreements such as the economic cooperation agreement, the avoidance of double taxation agreement and the investment protection agreement would help create a safe environment for investments in both countries.

"We assure that the DCCI is keen interested in providing all possible assistance and facilities to the Spanish business community to develop their activities and promote setting up business interests in Dubai, as well as promoting joint venture and direct investments in both countries," he added.

His Excellency Manuel Pineiro Souto, Spanish Ambassador to the UAE, highly appreciated the DCCI's efforts and support to launch the Spanish Business Council which would contribute to the enhancement of the bilateral trade ties between the UAE and Spain who share similar historical background.

"The best way for living in an attractive place like Dubai is to shift our businesses here where we can enjoy the encouraging environment that helps develop businesses and investments. We also encourage taking advantage of the business opportunities available in Dubai through the anticipated activity of the Spanish Business Council which will have a key role in developing the activities of Spanish companies and support their trade relations locally," said the Ambassador.

Mr. Miguel Silva Constenla, President of the Spanish Business Council, said that setting up the new council was decided due to the urgent need for an organization that regulate and protect the interests of the Spanish companies operating in Dubai and other emirates whose number is drastically increasing.

"The new council's message relies on the importance of increasing the share of the Spanish products and services in the local market and the promotion of the activities of these companies, and the need to provide a platform through which they can develop their businesses, in addition to the importance of participating in various local and international trade fairs and forums organized in Dubai," said Mr. Constenla.