ISLAMABAD: A high-level UAE delegation comprising CEOs/senior officials of major companies, including Mubadala Petroleum, ADIA (Sovereign Wealth Funds), Etisalat, DP World, Dubai Investment Authority, Emaar Company, Al Dahra Agriculture and Abu Dhabi Fund for Development called on Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday to discuss trade and investment.
The delegation was headed by Minister of State and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) CEO Dr Sultan Aljaber.
PM Khan welcomed the delegation that had been sent on the specific directions of UAE’s Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, with whom he had met on September 19 in Abu Dhabi and agreed to strengthen economic, trade and investment relations.
PM Khan said that the composition and important membership of the delegation reflected UAE’s seriousness about strengthening the historic relations with Pakistan. He highlighted the immense investment opportunities in renewable energy, petroleum and petrochemicals, seawater desalination, agricultural research and infrastructure development in Pakistan.
PM Khan encouraged the visiting delegation to explore these areas for investment. Minister of State Dr Al Jaber evinced UAE corporate sector’s interest to invest in Pakistan. He underscored that Pakistan had a lucrative market and a special geographic location. He conveyed UAE’s desire to elevate the relationship to a long-term strategic economic partnership. Both sides agreed to achieve real and tangible results in the shortest possible timeframe. PM Khan also conveyed his best wishes for the health and happiness of the leadership of UAE.
During the meeting, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi expressed satisfaction with the steady progress of bilateral relations between Pakistan and UAE. Referring to UAE’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s invitation for participation in Sir BaniYas Forum next month, the foreign minister expressed his keen desire to engage closely with UAE leadership, to bring the two brotherly countries and their people closer together.