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Abu Dhabi / WAM
Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy, met Angolan delegates to discuss mutual economic and trade cooperation led by Manuel Augusto, Minister of External Relations of Angola.
During the meeting, the two sides tackled ways to enhance their partnerships in vital industries such as oil and gas, precious metals, agriculture, civil aviation, and telecommunications, economic, trade, investment, and technical collaborations.
Al Mansouri said that the meeting reflected the UAE’s international policy to strategically strengthen its ties with key African nations like Angola, one of the region’s biggest markets. The non-oil trade relations between the UAE and Angola rose to $1.6 billion by the end of 2017, up by 38 percent from $1.15 billion in 2016. The figures indicated the widening ties between the two countries during the period.
He also emphasised the need to develop a joint mechanism to reinforce legislative frameworks designed to promote trade, investments, and major aviation-related activities, adding that the role of the private sector should also be emphasised to stimulate profitable and mutually beneficial trade and investment projects.
Al Mansouri took the opportunity to discuss key policies and initiatives of the UAE Government such as the UAE Vision 2021, the economic diversification plan, and a shift towards a sustainable and innovation- and knowledge-driven economy.
Both sides also agreed on the importance of establishing a joint economic committee to set up a clear action plan focusing on key economic areas in the near future.
For his part, Augusto expressed his country’s intention to develop stronger relations with the UAE, saying that Angola is impressed by the country’s pioneering experience in diversifying its economy. Angola, he added, would aim to benefit from the UAE experience in this regard.
He also tackled enormous economic investment opportunities in Angola during the meeting as well, expressing his country’s desire to forge robust partnerships with the UAE’s private sector.
The meeting was attended by Diamantino Azevedo, Angolan Minister of Oil and Mineral Resources, Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Al Shehhi, Under-Secretary of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Economy; Juma Mohammed Al Kait, Assistant Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Economy for Foreign Trade Affairs; Jamal Al Jarwan, Secretary-General of the UAE International Investors’ Council; and Omar Abdullah bin Ghalib, Deputy Director-General at the General Civil Aviation Authority, as well as senior government officials.