United States and United Arab Emirates hold second Economic Policy Dialogue

The meeting, led by Assistant Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs Jose W. Fernandez and UAE Assistant Minister for Economic Affairs HE Khalid Al Ghaith, built upon the inaugural meeting held last March in the UAE. During the first session, both delegations discussed greater cooperation to facilitate increased business and investment between the two nations. The second dialogue expanded on these themes to promote a stronger bilateral economic relationship, including finding innovative ways to enhance the role of the private sector in promoting economic growth.

The EPD serves as a coordinating and convening mechanism and provides a regular forum to focus on a number of new and ongoing initiatives. These initiatives are aimed at deepening economic and commercial ties between the United States and the UAE and will foster economic growth and job creation in both countries.

At the dialogue, officials discussed ways to strengthen the legal environment for businesses, support U.S. and Emirati small and medium enterprises, improve protection of intellectual property rights, and cooperate on development projects in North Africa. As part of their ongoing relationship, the UAE and the United States discussed possible dates for the next EPD, as well as plans for the 2012 Global Entrepreneurship Summit, which will be held on December 11-12 in Dubai.