Trade cooperation
between South
Africa and the
United Arab
Emirates (UAE) is on the
rise with
moves afoot
to fasttrack
the
establishment
of a joint
business
council
between the
two entities,
according
to Hamad
Hareb
Alhabsi, UAE
Ambassador
to South
Africa
Pointing to
imroving trade relations
between South Africa and
Saudi Arabia since the
launch of a joint business
council six years ago,
Hareb Alhabsi stressed the
need to speed up the process
which would also help
finalise legislation on the
protection of investments
for both countries.
Chairman of the Dubai
Chamber of Commerce and
Industry
(DCCI),
Majid Saif
Al Ghurair,
told
FTW he
supported
this, urging
South
African
business
chambers
as well as
government
and the
private
sector to
coordinate
efforts by jointly working
towards “stimulating
economic partnerships
between the business
communities in Dubai and
South Africa”.
Al Ghurair said the UAE
Embassy in Pretoria played
a key role in facilitating
trade between the UAE
and SA, noting that he had
also gained the cooperation
of the South African
Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (Sacci) earlier this
year during a UAE trade
mission to South Africa.
“Alan Mukoki, CEO of
Sacci, informed me that
the chamber enjoys a
membership of about 50
local chambers and was
open to cooperation with
the Dubai chamber to
encourage the emirate’s
businesses to invest in his
country,” he said.
Al Ghurair pointed out
that the two chambers
had agreed to share
information on trade
legislations and the
various “mechanisms and
procedures for trade” to be
able to offer smart services
to their respective business
communities.
INSERT & CAPTION: South African
business chambers as
well as government
and the private
sector need to
coordinate efforts.
– Majid-Saif-Al-Ghurair
