Foreign Ministry is keen to promote investments, trade

The UAE’s foreign policy is based on the principles of mutual respect, international cooperation, openness, building confidence and the implementation of development while preserving our Arab and Islamic specific identity and heritage, according to Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Foreign Minister. “Over the last five years, the UAE’s diplomacy saw a major shift as our relations with countries around grew with a focus on new regions such as South America, Central America, Africa, Central Asia and the Pacific where we opened a number of embassies and consulates,” said the minister in a speech at a reception organised upon his invitation under the theme “Diplomacy in Supporting National Foreign Investments”. “As we celebrate the UAE’s 41st National Day, we remember the achievements of the founding fathers of the nation and the sacrifices, giving and patience of the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan for the building of our modern state to achieve the prestigious international status which is now our source of pride. We have now the historical responsibility to continue this serious work and fruitful process of building and giving in order to preserve the status of the UAE as a source of generous giving.” Shaikh Abdullah further said: “Promoting the investments and trade of the UAE overseas is a strategic goal set by  Ministry of  Foreign Affairs, or MoFA, which coordinates and cooperates with its missions and the national economic sector to protect its interests, and continues to support its plans and efforts for foreign investments, contribute to studying the available opportunities and communicate with the national economic sector in this regard. This strategy yielded fruits and managed to reinforce the economic presence of the UAE in different regions around the world and to protect national foreign investments through embracing the issues faced by UAE investors and supporting them through the diplomatic missions in the concerned countries.” “Among the positive results achieved was the solving of issues such as dumping, quotas, high customs tariffs and taxes imposed by some countries on our products, profits and capital of some national companies, as well as the increase of the number of flights to countries around the world by Etihad Airways and Emirates airline which we are proud of and which reflected the quality and excellence achieved by the UAE,” he said. In attendance at the reception at MoFA’s premises were Mohamed Ahmed Al Mur, Speaker of the Federal National Council (FNC); Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Emirates airline and Chief Executive of the Emirates Group; Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research; Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade; Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, UAE Minister of Economy; Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al Owais, UAE Minister of Culture,Youth and Community Development; Dr Anwar Mohammed Gergash, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and UAE Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs; Dr Hadif bin Jowan Al Dhahiri, UAE Minister of Justice; Dr Rashid Ahmed bin Fahd, UAE Minister of Environment and Water; Dr Maitha Salem Al Shamsi, UAE Minister of State and Ahmed Juma Al Za’abi, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority (EAA) Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, and other senior officials.