U.A.E.’s achievements applauded by Danish business leaders

Abu Dhabi (WAM): A Danish delegation from the Young Presidents’ Organisation, YPO, yesterday visited the FNC headquarters for a question-and-answer session with members Afra Al Basti, Faisal Al Teneiji and Ahmed Al Mansouri. The National Newspaper said that "Danish investors have come to learn from members of the FNC on development, enterprise and immigration." The 62 members of the delegation, from its Danish chapter, said they were particularly impressed by the U.A.E.’s openness to foreigners and quick development. "The main goal was to meet government and private entities, to understand more of the U.A.E. as a whole," said Soren Fritzen, Director and Senior Partner with McKinsey. Erik Holm, managing partner of an investment company, said, "You manage to have so many cultures around you and then lead together with harmony, given that more than 200 nationalities are living in your country." The YPO is a business community for high-ranking chief executives and chairmen. It consists of 22,000 members, 125 countries and represents a turnover of US$6 trillion (Dh22.03tn). Mr. Holm said he would like to take home the lesson of how to create an atmosphere that welcomed everyone, no matter what their cultural background. "I think that the U.A.E. could be the role model for a lot of other countries in the region because I think it has been able to handle an extremely strong development in a good way," he said. During the session, a delegate asked how the U.A.E. handled its 85 percent immigrant workforce, compared with Denmark, where it was no more than 5 percent. "What is interesting, in Denmark on immigration issues you have a totally different view," said Maria Kahler, from the Engineering Society. "We have only 5 percent yet we spent a tremendous amount of time discussing it and we can learn from you." Mr. Al Mansouri told the delegates that the secret to the U.A.E.’s success was gradual development, saying, "When we talk about the development of the country it was across all cultures. In the past 44 years it was all based on progressive development." He stated that the country was open to providing equal opportunities to all nationalities who could contribute to its development. "There is a focus that the politicians are aware of women’s rights, and pollution and environmental aspects. It is great to hear that," said Thomas Kahler, managing director of Rockwool Scandinavia. Speaking about the U.A.E.’s critical issues, Al Mansouri said that most critical issues were regional, and said, "Our destiny is linked with the change in the world. But we are always prepared to change the challenges to solutions." - Emirates News Agency, WAM – http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395272252517.html