ABU DHABI / WAM
Dr. Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of the Federal National Council (FNC), recently met Dr. Jim Yong Kim, President of World Bank Group and his accompanying delegation, which included a number of regional directors in the Middle East.
During their meeting, they discussed ways to strengthen mutual cooperation in various fields, especially in the parliamentary field.
Kim congratulated Al Qubaisi on her election as the speaker of the FNC, thus becoming the first woman to lead the parliament in the Arab world and the Middle East.
The President of the World Bank Group was fascinated during his first visit to the UAE at the country’s experience, development projects, political empowerment of women and its seriousness in engaging Emirati women in all walks of life to ascend to the highest positions of the decision-making.
They tackled ways of cooperation between the Federal National Council and the World Bank Group, and agreed to take advantage of research and studies issued by the World Bank in various fields by inking a memorandum of understanding to enable both partners to exchange
expertise.
The two sides stressed during the meeting the importance of cooperation and strategic partnership between the UAE and the World Bank Group, as the World Bank is the strategic partner of the UAE in many projects, activities and events held by the UAE, especially in infrastructure, education and health
sectors.
Al Qubaisi referred to the position being enjoyed by the Emirati women, thanks to the UAE founding father’s efforts in empowering women, a legacy sustained and strengthened by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
She noted that the UAE and the World Bank share the goal of fighting poverty and diseases through a number of objectives and programmes.
The meeting was attended by members of the Federal National Council, including Abdul Aziz Abdullah Al Zaabi, Second Deputy Speaker of the FNC, Afra Rashid Al Basti, Azza Suleiman bin Suleiman, Aisha Rashid, Majed Rahma Al Shamsi, Jamal Mohammed Al Hai, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Mahrazi, Salem Abdullah Al Shamsi, Abdul Rahman Al Shamsi, and Assistant Secretary-General for Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs.