The Minister of Development of Infrastructures of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Abdullah Belhaif Alnuami, presented the business and investment opportunities of the existing infrastructure sector in this country, during a business meeting held today at the CEOE headquarters. The Secretary of State for Commerce, Xiana Méndez; the president of CEOE, Antonio Garamendi, and the general director of the Chamber of Commerce of Spain, Inmaculada Riera. Also participating were the new UAE ambassador in Spain, Majid Al-Suwaidi, and more than 100 of the most important Spanish companies related to the infrastructure sector.
The Secretary of State for Commerce, Xiana Méndez, highlighted that "in this business meeting, the Spanish construction and engineering companies, which have a recognized prestige worldwide, can learn firsthand about the opportunities offered by the United Arab Emirates. in the field of transport infrastructure. "
Likewise, Xiana Méndez pointed out that the United Arab Emirates is a country that has first class transport infrastructures and in many of the projects Spanish companies have participated or are participating, but the potential of our companies is even greater. There are still opportunities and the Secretary of State for Commerce offered the experience of Spanish companies and suggested continuing to improve investment conditions in the country. "The economic and trade relations between both countries are good," he said.
Projects with Spanish companies
The president of CEOE, Antonio Garamendi, stressed that Spanish companies are world leaders in the development of turnkey projects in the sectors related to infrastructure, engineering and rail transport, among others, with a significant presence , not only in Latin America, but increasingly, in the Anglo-Saxon countries.
Garamendi highlighted the good business climate in the UAE, which has led more than 200 Spanish companies to establish themselves in the country. In fact, he mentioned projects of great scope and technical complexity in which some of them have participated, such as the high-speed train between Medina and Mecca, the tunnel under the Bosporus or the expansion of the Panama Canal, "which show the capacity and experience of our companies in infrastructures and engineering, and that are key to continue promoting the role of EAU as the main logistics and business center of the Region, "he said.
The general director of the Chamber of Spain, Inmaculada Riera, explained that Spanish companies are fully aware of the advantages offered by the country to investors, especially in legal security and in the business-friendly environment, as well as the numerous opportunities in sectors as diverse as agri-food, consumer goods, trade, leisure and tourism, energy, water and environment, or transport infrastructure.
Business opportunities
The Minister of Development of Infrastructures of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Abdullah Belhaif Alnuami, highlighted the ease of doing business in the United Arab Emirates and emphasized how much the country has changed in the last ten years. He also praised the organization of these bilateral meetings that allow to know first hand the ongoing projects and enhance the technological and industrial cooperation between both countries. In this regard, he announced the signing of a collaboration agreement to further strengthen bilateral trade relations and allow the exchange of information, to encourage participation in projects of common interest.
The recently appointed UAE ambassador in Spain, Majid Al-Suwaidi, stressed that the relations between Spain and the UAE are going through their best moment and, proof of this, is that more than 8,000 companies export to this Gulf country. He also stressed that it is a platform between Africa, Europe and Asia and that the business environment, with low taxes, facilitates the arrival of foreign investors. Regarding the Dubai 2020 Exhibition, he explained that the UAE will be the first country in the region to organize an event of this kind and informed that there are already 192 countries from all over the world that have confirmed their attendance at the Expo. "The visit of more than 25 million people is expected within six months from October," he said.