UAE Pavilion at Hannover Messe to have significant impact on national economy, say delegates

HANNOVER, 25th April, 2017 (WAM) -- The UAE economy will receive significant benefits as a result of the national pavilion at Hannover Messe according to Emirati industry leaders and economy officials, as the group today discussed during a press conference at the pavilion’s official opening. The 70th edition of the Hannover Messe was inaugurated yesterday by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who spoke of the need to advance international free trade agreements, urging her counterparts to remove protectionist barriers to trading policies. Ali Abdullah Al-Ahmad, UAE Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany, said, "The UAE’s participation in Hannover Messe, the largest industrial exhibition in the world, is a reflection of the strong historical strategic and trade relations with Germany." The UAE is Germany’s largest trading partner in the Middle East and North Africa region, with bilateral trade amounting to 15.52 billion Euros in 2015, equivalent to 30 percent of the total regional trade with Germany. "Today, Germany is a leading country when it comes to the industrial sector, and Hannover Messe will serve as the best venue to learn about the recent developments in this sector from Germany and around the world. It will also showcase the booming progress being made in the UAE’s industrial sector, in line the UAE Vision 2021," Al-Ahmad added. Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Saleh, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Economy for Foreign Trade and Industry, spoke of the importance of advancing bilateral and mutually beneficial trade agreements in pursuit of global socio-economic growth. "Hannover Messe provides a premier platform for promoting partnerships and new business models for the industrial sector of the future. The United Arab Emirates looks forward to the wealth of knowledge, advanced technologies and best industry practices awaiting its participants. We are also eager to strengthen existing affiliations with the industrial trade and form new ones that complement our growth strategy," he said. The UAE Cabinet recently announced a six-pillar plan to advance and lead the adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies. The plan includes close collaboration with the World Economic Forum in efforts to produce an advisory council solely committed to advancing revolutionary technologies on a worldwide scale. Ali Majed Al Mansouri, Chairman of the Department of Economic Development – Abu Dhabi, said, "Hannover Messe is the world’s largest annual event for industrial technology and manufacturing, which represents a significant amount of national economic development as we move towards a diverse post-oil economy. The manufacturing sector accounts for roughly 13 percent of our non-oil GDP and is a rapidly growing field that will help boost our efforts to lead the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Our presence here this week will help cement the UAE’s role in these exciting developments." With some 6,500 exhibitors and 250,000 visitors, Hannover Messe is a unique platform raising awareness about some of the most cutting-edge industry manufacturers and business services in the UAE, including leading free zones. The UAE Pavilion at Hannover Messe is organised and hosted by the UAE Ministry of Economy and the Department of Economic Development – Abu Dhabi. Representation this year consists of 15 organisations, from industry specific manufacturers to major economic and government entities, of which are the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Other exhibitors include Strata, Abu Dhabi Ports, Emirates Global Aluminium, ZonesCorp, Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, DMCC, as well as the Dubai Airport Freezone Authority, DAFZA. http://wam.ae/en/details/1395302610192