The UAE FCCI board of directors held a meeting at the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The meeting was chaired by His Excellency Saeed Ali KHamas, Acting Chairman of the UAE FCCI and Chairman of the Fujirah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Attending the meeting were their Excellencies the chairman and manager of the member chambers. His Excellency the chairman stressed the importance of bolstering the operations and activities of the FCCI to enable it to better serve the chambers members and the private sector in the country.

The UAE FCCI’s Board of Directors discussed the role of the Federation and the chamber members in developing and activating the role of the private sector in various aspects of economic life in the UAE , as well as improving its foreign ties through setting up numerous joint business men councils with a number of countries around the world. It also seeks to bolster its presence in economic committees so as to improve the national economy.

Khamas said that the FCCI Board of Directors in its 83rd session has approved the Annual Plan and the 2010 budget in addition to discussing the agenda of the visit of the Omani Business men Delegation to hold the third meeting of the UAE-Omani Business Council through coordination with the member chambers. The Board has also reviewed the MOU’s signed lately between the UAE FCCI and the General Federation of the Yemeni Chambers of Commerce , the Azerbaijani Export Foundation and Investment Promotion, the Common Market for East and South Africa (COMMESA), and the report of the visit of the FCCI’s delegation to Poland.

The Board also discussed the report of the Emirates Competitiveness Council, nominating an FCCI representative in the Arabic-Irish Commerce Chamber. The Board recommended the importance of following up and coordinating with the Ministry of Internal Affairs regarding the licenses of the private security firms operating in the UAE in addition to approving a permanent exhibition for Greek Products and UAE products to be held in both countries, establishing a UAE-Armenian Business Men council, a UAE-Zcheck Businessmen Council and holding a permanent exhibition for Argentinean products in the UAE.

His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahayan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, inaugurated the Private and Public Sectors Partnership Conference-The Pakistan Democratic Group. Attending the conference was Polinitsch Arinitsh, State Minister and Turkish Deputy Premier, Mahmoud Shah Mahmoud Qureshi, Pakistani Foreign Minister, and representatives of the participating countries in the group totaling 23 countries. The conference was also attended by the Pakistani Investment Board officials’ and a number of Turkish economic functions and UAE departments and investment functions.

In his Inauguration speech, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed welcomed the participants. He said that the UAE is keen on making this conference a success which could only be achieved with the collaborative efforts of the attendees. He reiterated that the success of the meeting will enhance trust in Pakistan which has been facing a number of challenges that the Pakistani people and government are facing up strongly.

He said that this meeting headed by the UAE and Pakistan represents an important step in launching the Pakistan Friends Group. He hoped that this group will be instrumental in making the initiative a success. He pointed out that the UAE had hosted meeting for high dignitaries of the Pakistan Friends in November 2008 in addition to a meeting for the group’s experts in April 2009. It has also pledged 300 million dollar in the donors meeting in Tokyo.

His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Added that hosting this important event which is the first of its kind in the region, is a reiteration of the keenness of the UAE to support the efforts for the stability and development of Pakistan since it represents a strategic depth for the region.

HE said that the UAE stresses the importance of this meeting in order to achieve its goals and create a long term partnership between the private and the public sectors so that they will be a platform to support the development efforts.

His Highness said: “We look forward to the private sector to participate in the responsibility along with the government members of Pakistan Friends Group.”

The UAE participated in the 108th session of the Federation of the Arab Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Agriculture. The FCCI delegation was headed by His Excellency Saeed Ali Khamas, Deputy Chairman of the UAE FCCI and Chairman of the Fujairah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. he delegation also included His Excellency Abdullah Sultan Abdullah, General Secretary of the UAE FCCI, his Excellency Ahmed Khalifa AL Shamsi, First Deputy of Fujairah Chamber of Commerce, His Excellency Khaled Mohammad Al Jassim, General Manager of the Fujairah Chamber.

Lebanese Minister of Higher Education, representative of the Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Al Harriri, inaugurated the session at the Adnan AL Qassar Building for Arabic Economy. Attending the Inauguration ceremony were delegations from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, UAE, Egypt, Bahrain, Tunisia, Algeria, Syria, Sudan, Iraq, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritania, Yemen, and the hosting country Lebanon. The ceremony was also attended by a number of Lebanese economic functions and business men.

Al Qassar
At the beginning of the session the Chairman of the Arab Chambers Minister Adnan Al Qassar delivered a speech. He said: “we are confident that the government of national unity, headed by Saad Al Harriri and enjoys the support of all parties and is cooperating with the President Michelle Suleiman and the Speaker of the Parliament Nabeh Bari, will set the basic standards for a stable and secure Lebanon and will work to consolidate the partnership of the private and public sectors.

Al Towejeri
The Assistant General Secretary for Economic Affairs in the Arab League Mohammad Bin Ibrahim Al Towejri delivered a speech on behalf of the General Secretary of the Arab League Amro Mousa. In his speech he said: “Joint Arab business is not restricted to governments any more but rather is being carried out by the private sector which has become an important partner in the process of Arab development. It is one of the most important points of strength in the Arab world since it represents the essence of development and integrity as well as its social role and national role. Although this is a great privilege, it is also a big responsibility that the private sector should shoulder amidst these difficult times.”

Monaymina
The Lebanese Minister of Education said that what we need is increase mutual trade so that we achieve a true Arabic development. We should collect our resources and channel them to the benefit of our citizens each in his own country and with his own special features. We should also improve the level of the working force and improve education and technology in the Arab world.

The UAE FCCI Discussed with the General Secretary of the Federation of the Gulf Cooperation Countries Chambers of Commerce and Industry means of developing cooperation between the two parties in various economic aspects. His Excellency Abdullah Sultan Abdullah, General Secretary of the UAE FCCI, met with his Excellency Abdul Raheem Hassan Naqi, General Secretary of the Federation of the Gulf Cooperation Countries Chambers of Commerce and Industry, at the offices of the UAE FCCI in Dubai. The meeting reviewed the latest efforts to improve ties with the member chambers of the gulf federation and discuss means of improving ties in all aspects that concerns the private sector like work and investment.

His Excellency Abdullah Sultan reviewed the achievements of the UAE Federation during that last period and the activities it had arranged and took part in locally and globally as well as the future plans that needs the collaboration of efforts and the cooperation of the private sector in the UAE. The meeting was attended by His Excellency Shaheen Ali Shaheen, Assistant General Secretary of the UAE FCCI, His Excellency Mohammad Al Hamrani, General Manager of the Ajman Chamber, His Excellency Khal Mohammad Al Jassim, Manager of the Fujairah Chamber, Her Excellency Mona Al Jaber, Assistant Manager of the Abu Dhabi Chamber, Ahmed Al Qizi, Economic Management Department Head at the UAE FCCI.

Abdul Raheem Naqi, General Secretary of the Federation of the Gulf Cooperation Countries Chambers of Commerce and Industry, reviewed the most important studies and research papers carried out during the last period concerning the private sector. Some of these research papers were published on the website of the Federation of Gulf Chambers including studies that dealt with the current economic situation and the effect of the global financial crisis on the economies of the region as well as means of reducing the effects of the crisis in addition to other studies on the common gulf market, foreign labour in the gulf and its effect.

His Excellency Abdullah Sultan Abdullah, UAE FCCI’s General Secretary, reviewed with Mr. Igor Noyaksove, Head of the Russian Delegation to the UAE-Russian Business Council and his accompanying delegation means of enhancing commercial cooperation between the UAE and Russia as per the UAE FCCI’s program to enhance ties with all friendly countries. The meeting which was held at the UAE FCCI’s offices in Dubai was attended by His Excellency Vladimir Kogevniekove, Commercial Counselor in the Russian Embassy to the UAE.

The General Secretary hailed the excellent ties between the two countries and particularly between the private sectors in both countries. He referred to the numerous joint agreements that were signed between the two countries including the agreement to establish the UAE-Russian Business Council.

The General Secretary briefed the visiting delegation on the most important investment projects in the UAE. He stated that the UAE is an attractive place for investments thanks to its legislative framework that speeds up and protects investments.

The meeting also discussed the outcome of the economic partnership forums in order to improve the strong economic partnership between the UAE and Russia.

On his side Mr. Igor said that he is pleased with the development of the economic ties between the two countries and that the UAE is now a commercial partner to Russia. He said that he will study the propositions of the General Secretary and forward to the competent authorities.