In a bid to promote trade and investment partnerships with Finland, the UAE will take part in SLUSH 2016, an event dedicated to innovation, advanced technology and entrepreneurship, starting in Helsinki, Finland, from tomorrow.

The latest edition of Europe’s leading startup event is expected to host more than 15,000 participants from over 100 countries, including 2,000 entrepreneurs and 800 investors from various funding institutions.

The UAE delegation, led by Abdullah Al Saleh, Under-Secretary for Foreign Trade and Industry at the Ministry of Economy, includes Dr. Abdulrahman Mohammed Ali Al Shayeb Al Naqbi, Director-General of Ras al-Khaimah Department of Economic Development; Mohammed Nasser Al Zaabi, Director of the Ministry’s Trade Promotion and Investment Department; Mohammed Al Yousfi, National Programme Director for SMEs; representatives from Ajman Free Zone, Mubadala Development Company, Mubadala Renewable Energy Solutions and Total Marine Services, as well as several entrepreneurs representing various economic activities, service sectors and businesses.

According to the Ministry of Economy, its participation in the event is part of its efforts to support entrepreneurs and innovators, and also to provide opportunities for promoting trade and investment partnerships between the businessmen and investors of the UAE and Finland. The UAE delegation will participate in the UAE-Finland Business Forum and hold a number of bilateral meetings with senior officials of the Finnish government.

Al Saleh said that the UAE is eager to learn about outstanding international expertise in the areas of innovation and new technologies. He noted that although foreign trade between the UAE and Finland has been developing remarkably, the current level is still below the capabilities and the potentials of the two countries.

The non-oil trade stood at US$440 million in 2015 and amounted to US$322 billion during the first half of the current year alone, reflecting sound growth, which is expected to continue as both countries work on strengthening co-operation, specifically in innovation and research, he added.

Al Zaabi said that his organisation’s decision to join SLUSH, along with an economic and trade delegation comprising a number of entrepreneurs, is part of its objective to provide access to the best global and international practices in innovation and also showcase investment opportunities available in the UAE.

Al Yousfi said that the UAE delegation’s visit to Finland would enrich national expertise in the areas of innovation, entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprises through exposure to knowledge and new technologies that can be incorporated into the broader efforts by the Ministry to support and promote these areas and develop priority sectors within the national economy.

The Ministry of Economy held a preparatory meeting to discuss the programme, ways to benefit from the exhibition and its various activities, and how to maximise opportunities for knowledge transfer and gain access to the latest global innovative practices for developing vital economic sectors.

The meeting was chaired by Mohammed Nasser Al Zaabi, and attended by Victoria Ivanova, Senior Advisor, Invest in Finland, along with representatives of the parties taking part in the upcoming Finland visit.