H.E Salah Salem ben Omeir Al Shamsi, president of the FCCI and of Abu Dhabi Chamber, met H.E Manuel Pineiro, Spanish Ambassador to the UAE, accompanied by Mr. Manuel Fabi, the new economic consultant at the Spanish Embassy.The meeting discussed means to enhance economic and business relationships between the two countries.

Al Shamsi presented a quick overview about the country's latest economic performance and the advancements it is witnessing and the future planned projects. He pointed out that the private sector is playing the primary role in executing these projects, thus, it needs exposure to the global expertise. Spanish forms can play this role and cooperate with local firms to implement these projects.

In addition, Al Shamsi met with H.E. Issa Hamad Bou Chihab, UAE Ambassador to Maghreb and discussed the issue of encouraging local firms to invest in Maghreb and initiating mutual business and investment relationships between the businessmen and the firms of each of the two countries.

H.E. Abdullah Sultan Abdullah, the FCCI secretary general and H.E. Shaheen Ali Shaheen met with H.E. Hassan Baki, president of the Erbil Chamber in Kurdistan – Iraq. Baki was present in the UAE to participate in the 39th Conference of the General Union of Arab Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Agriculture.

Abdullah defined the FCCI areas of work and mentioned that the cooperation between the UAE and Iraq is backed with the historical ties between the two countries. In addition, he stressed the concern of the private sector in the UAE to participate in the reconstruction of Iraq.

Baki in his turn present an overview about the situation in Iraq and the latest developments. He stressed that the economic on the continuous improvement of the economic situation in Iraq, and on the importance of enhancing business relationships with the UAE.

At the end, Abdullah presented the readiness of the FCCI to offer facilities to Iraqi businessmen in order create business relationships with their UAE fellows.

The FCCI published the new edition of the UAE Commercial Directory 2007, both as a hard copy and CD. In addition to companies' contacts, the directory comprises certain UAE Indicators (demographics and other economic indicators), as mentioned by the FCCI assistant secretary general, Shahine Ali Shahine. H.H. Sheikha Lubna Bint Khaled Al Qassimi, the UAE Minister of economy, introduced the directory.

She said, that despite the crisis and pressures the world faced in 2006, the UAE economy flourished. GDP grew to 599.2 billion Dirhams in 2006, i.e. growing 23.4% from the year 2005 to the year 2006. Per capita income reached 139 thousands Dirhams in 2006, as compared to 110 thousands Dirhams in 2005. Local investment also increased to 127.7 billion Dirhams in 2006, with a growth rate of 28.3% from the year 2005. Exports grew by 15.1% and imports by 15.6%, for the same above period.

The directory's introduction also included the words of H.E. Salah Ben Omeir Al Shamsi, the FCCI president. He stressed that this latest edition reflects the prosperity that the private sector in the UAE has achieved.

H.E. Salah Ben Omeir Al Shamsi, the FGCCC and the FCCI president, met H.E. Abdul Rahim Hassan Al Naqi, the FGCCC secretary general.During the meeting, Al Naqi presented to Al Shamsi the FGCCC three-year plan which includes various activities related to the gulf public sector, in addition to issue related to: stimulating the collaborative work of the gulf economy, preventing the obstacles facing trade among GCC countries, coordinating between GCC chambers in order to achieve qualitative performance improvement, and meeting with the consulting committee members of the higher GCC council to discuss issues related to the private sector.

Finally, Al Shamsi hoped that the coming period will witness further growth and development nationally, regionally, and globally.

 

H.E. Salah Ben Omeir Al Shamsi, President of the Federation of GCC Chambers praised the results of the Gulf Chambers Council's Meeting and the GCC Secretariat-General Meeting with the Presidents and Members of GCC Chambers that were held lately in Bahrain. The importance of these meetings was in the high presence of Arab chambers' presidents and other officials.Issues discussed revolved around restructuring the FGCCC (Federation of Gulf Cooperation Council Chambers) after 28 years from its establishment to achieve two objectives:

First, reconsidering the decision making and the implementation processes, and second, training employees and hiring national staffs. As for the Gulf Commercial Arbitration Centre, he said that the FGCCC decision to financially support the centre with 80 thousands Bahraini Dinars emanates from the conviction that a gulf juridical body should be present to solve quarrels. Al Shamsi also stressed the need to discuss issues and share opinions objectively, study trade obstacles facing GCC countries and find the appropriate solutions, and surpass problems that hinder from the development of GCC countries.

In addition, Al Shamsi expressed his appreciation to H.E. Mohammed Abdullah Al Mulla, in occasion of the end of his position as a Secretary General for the FGCCC. Al Mulla will be honored during the 39th meeting of Arab chambers of commerce that will be held in Abu Dhabi on May 2nd – May 3rd 2007.

Mr. Abdul Rahim Hassan Al Naqi will succeed Al Mulla as a Secretary General for the FGCCC.

The FCCI participated in the in the Gulf Chambers Council's Meeting and in the GCC Secretariat-General Meeting with the Presidents and Members of GCC Chambers in Bahrain. Representatives were:

• H.E. Salah Ben Omeir Al Shamsi, President of the Federation of GCC Chambers and President of the FCCI
• H.E. Ahmad Mohammed Al Madfaa, FCCI board member and President of Sharjah Chamber
• H.E. Said Ali Khammas, FCCI board member and President of Al Fujeirah Chamber
• H.E. Dr. Rawda Al Muatawa'a, Second Vice-President of Abu Dhabi Chamber
• H.E. Shahine Ali Shahine, the FCCI Assistant Secretary General
• Mr. Khaled Ben Buti, Assistant Manager for Sharjah Chamber

Al Shamsi said during the opening of the Federation of GCC Chambers Council meeting that the present and future periods require from GCC countries to take the initiative to assess the federation's path since its establishment in 1979. He added that this meeting is an occasion to share and discuss visions, suggestions and projects.

As for the GCC Secretariat-General Meeting with the presidents and members of GCC chambers, Al Shamsi mentioned that the most important issue discussed was the GCC's Secretariat – General memorandum concerning the economic decisions that necessitate the ministerial committees to complete the requirements of the federal gulf customs before the end of the current transitional period.

As for H.H. Sheikh Selman Ben Hamad Al Thani, Ruler of Bahrain, he praised the FGCCC initiatives to adjust its initial system and its efforts to enhance the role of the private sector and activate the joint gulf e-market. In addition, he emphasized the importance of eliminating any obstacle and bureaucracy that prevents from the effective cooperation among the gulf countries.