DP World chairman meets Maldivian President, tourism minister

DP World Chairman, and Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem has met with the President of the Maldives, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, and Minister of Tourism Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Ghafoor, in Male City, together with senior company officials, to discuss potential areas of cooperation across various industry sectors. In a cabinet meeting with Abdul Ghafoor following talks with the President, Bin Sulayem expressed his support for the fortitude and strategic expertise with which the Maldives have planned their development initiatives. The archipelago has delivered consistent economic growth throughout the latter part of the last decade with an annual real GDP growth averaging 6 per cent. With an economy that is primarily dependent on tourism, the focus has broadened to include auxiliary industries such as transportation, communication and construction. Following the meeting, Bin Sulayem said the Maldives have tremendous potential for growth and Dubai’s symbiotic relationship with the country calls for continuous cooperation both today and in the future. "I am honoured to be part of these on-going talks and look forward to building on the warm relationship between the Maldives and Dubai. It is clear that the Maldivian government has great plans for its people’s future and we hope to help by offering expertise and experience wherever possible to help translate the huge potentials of the country into a strong economy based on modern infrastructure." The building of these economic ties have reflected positively in the bilateral trade between Dubai and the Maldives, which has grown by 18 per cent in 2013 amounting to Dh296.4 million, compared to Dh251.4 million in 2012. – Emirates News Agency, WAM – http://www.wam.ae/en/news/economics-emirates/1395269556134.html