The UAE is participating at the 16th Joint Gulf Expo to be held in Riyadh under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud.

Set to run from October 27 to 30, the dedicated UAE pavilion at the event will include leading national companies and local exhibitors, as well as small and medium enterprises. The UAE participation is being collaboratively organised by the Ministry of Economy and the Higher Corporation for Specialised Economic Zones - ZonesCorp.

Gulf Expo bi-annually offers a dedicated platform for owners of small and medium enterprises in the GCC countries to showcase and promote their products and services. Highlighting the enabling business environment in these countries, the event seeks to reinforce the credibility of products and services in the GCC region.

Vital sectors that are in focus at the exhibition include national industries, small and medium enterprises, individual and institutional innovations, building and construction, agriculture and food products, conventional and renewable energy, media, marketing and trade, as well as e-business, among others.

Speaking on the UAE participation at the landmark event, Mohammed Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz Al Shehhi, Undersecretary for Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Economy, said, "The UAE’s impactful presence at the exhibition this year with a dedicated pavilion will reflect our commitment to supporting the progress of the Gulf Cooperation Council and strengthening our collaborative synergies for the greater welfare of the people of the region across the economic, commercial, industrial and investment sectors. We are resolved to achieving the much-needed integration of the GCC region through stepping-up such trade and cultural exchanges."

Al-Shehhi added, "The exhibition will fulfil the aspirations of young entrepreneurs and founders of small and medium enterprises through enabling them to meet prominent businessmen and investors and showcase their innovations and services. These investors can serve as a link to potential global markets for our products and eventually lead to the international expansion of GCC companies."

He stressed that the GCC joint exhibition will also highlight the role of countries in the region in supporting small and medium enterprises and encouraging innovation and creativity. In addition, the exhibition will seek to increase the volume of trade among member countries of the GCC and facilitate the marketing of e-business services.

Saeed Isa Al-Khaili, Acting Chief Executive of the Higher Authority for Special Economic Zones, said: "Our collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Economy in organising the UAE participation at the 16th Gulf Expo falls within the framework of synchronizing national efforts to highlight key areas of investment in general and industrial investment opportunities in the country in particular. We are keen through such efforts to support investors in the UAE in exploring emerging opportunities in the GCC region. By promoting our industries regionally, we will develop local and regional partnerships that will further drive the growth of national industries in the UAE."

Al-Khaili added, "ZonesCorp, helps drive industrial economic investments in Abu Dhabi. Our presence at the Gulf Expo will enhance the contribution of Abu Dhabi in the development of industries within the UAE, the GCC countries and the wider Middle East region on par with best-in-class industrial standards and specifications. Offering a unique opportunity to showcase the UAE’s innovations to friendly GCC markets, we also hope the strengthening of the GCC integration will drive investors in the region to pump in greater capital reserves into the UAE’s industrial sector."

The UAE hosted the 15th Gulf Expo in Sharjah in 2014, which drew the participation of 200 exhibitors - local companies from the Gulf, institutions and factories, as well as 70 UAE-based companies and institutions from among local and federal entities.
Source:WAM