Dr. Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of Federal National Council, FNC, has hailed the growing bilateral relations between the UAE and Switzerland, noting that over 500 Swiss companies are currently operating in the UAE.

This came in a meeting today between Al Qubaisi and Jurg Stahl, President of the Swiss National Council, at the headquarters of the FNC’s General Secretariat in Abu Dhabi.

Stahl is leading a senior Swiss delegation on a visit to the UAE that is aimed to promote parliamentary relations and economic and cultural ties between both countries.

Al Qubaisi stressed the importance of maintaining strong parliamentary ties to reflect the growing strategic partnership between the two countries.

She noted that bilateral co-operation in areas of commerce, investment, tourism, culture and science has witnessed impressive development over the past four decades, since the establishment of the Swiss Commercial Office in Abu Dhabi in 1976.

The office has helped develop the economic ties between the UAE and Switzerland, she said, while pointing out that over 500 Swiss companies are currently operating in the UAE.

In 2010, the UAE-Swiss Friendship Council was established, to further advance bilateral ties, she added.

The meeting addressed the latest developments in the region, including in Syria, Iraq and Yemen, as well as the UAE’s efforts to combat terrorism.

The meeting was attended by Abdulaziz Al Zaabi, Second Deputy Speaker of the FNC, and FNC members Azza Sulaiman, Dr. Saeed Al Mottawa and Saeed Al Rumaithi, as well as members of the Friendship Committee with European Countries and Ahmed Shabeeb Al Dhaheri, Secretary-General of the FNC.