The UAE Embassy in Italy, on Wednesday, organised the first introductory meeting at its new headquarters with representatives of Italian SMEs, who constitute 90 percent of Italian companies.

Saqr Nasser Al Raisi, UAE Ambassador to the Republic of Italy, Abdullah Hassan Al Shamsi, Consul-General of the UAE in Milan, and members of the embassy attended the event.

The meeting was aimed at enhancing bilateral co-operation and reviewing investment opportunities in the UAE. It also sought to explore the unique economic, logistic, financial and legal potentials of the UAE that encourage foreign companies to expand their activities and serve the two friendly countries, especially in the space, technology, digital, innovation, education, research, healthcare, pharmaceutical, transport and clean-energy domains. These are particularly important to the UAE's future agenda within the framework of Expo 2020 Dubai.

The meeting witnessed a huge turnout of Italian companies, institutions and universities from all over the country. This reflects the growing attention to the Emirati market as a global economic hub and a gateway to various regions, especially Middle East, North Africa and South Asia, MENASA.

Al Raisi welcomed the participants and encouraged them to join the international exhibitions and awards in the UAE. He also stressed the embassy and the consulate general's readiness to enhance communication channels to receive company proposals and queries and develop an exchange of expertise between the two countries.