An agreement to develop increased economic activity between Dubai and Scotland was signed at a short ceremony in Dundee last night (Tues Nov 15 2005).
The deal links Al-Maktoum Institute in Dundee with the Government of Dubai’s Department of Economic Development. The signing of the agreement took place half-way through a three-day visit to Scotland by senior officials of the Department.
Led by Mr Khalid Al-Kassim, Deputy Director-General for Planning and Development Affairs, the delegation has been involved in a series of talks in Dundee on Monday, Aberdeen yesterday and today (Wed) they will be in Glasgow. During their brief trip they’ve met with Dundee and Aberdeen City Councils, Scottish Enterprise Tayside and Grampian and Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce.
Today they’ll have talks with the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, Glasgow City Council, Scottish Enterprise Glasgow and the Scottish Council for Development and Industry.
Also attending the meetings was Professor Abd al-Fattah El-Awaisi, Principal of Al-Maktoum Institute, who signed the agreement with Mr Al-Kassim last night.
Professor El-Awaisi said: “It has always been the intention of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, the Deputy Ruler of Dubai, that the Institute act as a link between the Emirates and Scotland. We are working with the Department to find practical ways of implementing this vision. We hope the signing of this agreement will help to speed up the process of developing meaningful economic links between Dubai and Scotland. The visit by Mr Al-Kassim and his colleagues, Mr Saeed Al-Suwaidi and Dr Ibrahim Kurany is an important first step. As we develop the agreement we hope that many more business people from the Emirates will come to see what Scotland can offer.”
Under the terms of the four-year agreement the Institute and the Department have agreed to set up a joint executive committee, which will develop a work plan and set targets. They will also organise conferences, workshops and specialised seminars, cooperate on specialised training and examine the possibility of student internships.
Mr Al-Kassim said:”The Department of Economic Development believes the Institute is the gateway to develop the relationship between the Emirates and Scotland. We are developing a basic plan for the Knowledge Economy that Dubai has set as its vision for the new century and this sits very well with the Scottish Executive’s ‘Smart Successful Scotland’ strategy. From what I’ve heard so far in Dundee and Aberdeen I’m confident there are many business opportunities for two-way traffic for Scots in Dubai and for companies from my country over here.”
