Abdullah bin Zayed to lead official to Greece

Abu Dhabi, Jan 9, 2012 (WAM) - H. H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister of the UAE, will head an official delegation to the Republic of Greece next Wednesday. Economic and investment representatives of the delegation will explore prospects for enhancing bilateral cooperation between the UAE and the Republic of Greece. The official delegation accompanying Sheikh Abdullah will be comprised of representatives from a number of federal agencies, local representatives from chambers of commerce and industry, and high-ranking representatives from private and government-owned companies from various sectors. During the two-day visit, discussions will take place between the UAE delegation and Greek representatives from both the public and private sector, focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in all fields. The agenda will also include a series of official meetings, as well as a meeting of the first Joint Committee between the two countries, which will be chaired on the Greek side by Benjalos Theodoros, Deputy Prime Minister of Greece. This meeting is intended to strengthen joint cooperation in the fields of education, finance, tourism, health, and security, among others. A UAE-Greek Economic Forum will also be organised to discuss developing investment opportunities in Greece into joint projects that support government efforts to achieve common interests between the two friendly countries. On this occasion, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan referred to the growing relations between the UAE and Greece, which were officially established on 31 May 1975. He further noted that the UAE is keen to develop relations with Greece, to live up to the ambitions and aspirations of the leadership and people of the two friendly nations based on mutual respect and common interests. Sheikh Abdullah added that the economic relations between the two countries are expected to grow, and that the volume of non-oil trade with Greece for the year 2010 was US$117 million, ranking Greece 39th amongst countries in terms of non-oil foreign trade with the UAE. He confirmed that the first meeting of the Joint Committee between the two countries will contribute to strengthening cooperation between the two sides, and highlights the strength of friendship and cooperation between Greece and the UAE. He further noted that the meeting is an important step toward pushing the two countries to greater heights in all fields of common interest. The UAE minister hopes that the Joint Committee will make recommendations which meet the hopes and aspirations of the two countries and their people. - Emirates News Agency, WAM