The UAE-Finland Business Forum took place recently in the Finnish capital of Helsinki with the participation of an official delegation from the UAE comprising several Emirati entrepreneurs and investors as well as representatives of local government agencies.

The group was part of an extended visit organised by the Ministry of Economy in cooperation with the UAE's Council of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Projects which included participation in SLUSH 2016, high-level official meetings of the Finnish Government.

The forum showcased prospects of economic cooperation and opportunities for building robust trade and investment partnerships between the public and private sectors of the UAE and Finland.

Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy for Foreign Trade and Industry, led the UAE side, while the Finnish side was headed by Matti Anttonen, Under-Secretary of State for External Economic Relations.

Mr. Anttonen emphasised Finland’s keenness to develop stronger economic relations with the UAE and noted the great potential for cooperation between the two sides so as to advance development in areas of common interest, especially innovation, education and energy.

Al Saleh highlighted the sustained growth of economic ties between the UAE and Finland. He revealed that their countries’ total bilateral foreign non-oil trade for 2015 reached US$440 million and is expected to rise further through the end of the current year after standing at US$322 million during the first half.

He said that the UAE’s participation in the SLUSH exhibition provided a major opportunity for members of its delegation, especially entrepreneurs, to learn about the best practices of governments and companies worldwide in deepening the role of innovation in achieving success and accelerating growth. He called on Finland’s businessmen and investors to benefit from the UAE’s leading economic environment which features excellent economic legislation, advanced infrastructure, a strategic location, and several ongoing development projects, all of which, he said, are important factors for attracting investments and supporting continuous business growth.

The UAE delegates to the forum included Dr. Abdulrahman Al Shayeb Al-Naqbi, Director-General of the RAK Department of Economic Development, Dr. Ayman Ibrahim, Adviser to the UAE Minister of Economy for Policy and International Cooperation, Mohammed Nasser Hamdan Al Zaabi, Director of the Ministry of Economy’s Trade Promotion and Investment Department, Mohamed Al Yousfi, National Programme Director for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises at the Ministry, representatives from the Expo 2020 Dubai office, Dubai South, the Ajman Free Zone Authority, Mubadala Energy, Mubadala Development Company, Dubai Investment Development Agency, the Trade Business Organisation of the American University of Sharjah, Total Marine Services, and entrepreneurs from various sectors.