The Advisor to Sudan\'s President, Dr Mustafa Osman Ismail attending the Annual Investment Forum which opened in Dubai last Tuesday,  met the UAE foreign trade minister, Sheikha Lubna al-Qassimi, in which he discussed developments in investment opportunities in Sudan. Dr Mustafa commended the contributions made by the United Arab Emirates towards development in Sudan, calling on UAE companies to benefit from the available investment opportunities in his country, particularly in agriculture, food, animal products and assorted industries. The UAE Minister indicated that delegation visits and participating in trade exhibitions would create strong joint economic partnerships between the two countries,  based on common interests and the proximity of Emirati ports which could provide the main passage for commercial exchange between Sudan and the Gulf and Western Asian countries. In the same context, the UAE ambassador in Khartoum, Hassan Ahmed al-Shehi, praised recent developments in all fields of cooperation between his country and Sudan, saying the UAE embassy gives absolute priority to developing economic and trade relations between the two countries. \"UAE is very interested in increasing its investments in Sudan, especially after the advantages guaranteed by the new investment law. UAE considers Sudan as one of its four main sources of food supplies, and this year will see the foundation of a ministerial committee to enhance ties between the private sectors of both countries,\" said al-Shehi in a meeting with the chairman of the Sudanese Business Owners Union, Saud al-Breer. The UAE ambassador revealed that a branch of Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank will be opening soon in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, as an initial step towards further expansion in other Sudanese states.