Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis held a meeting this morning at the Maximos Mansion with the Minister of State in the United Arab Emirates, Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber. Mr Mitsotakis hailed the hosting of the Broader Strategic Cooperation Forum, stressing that the latter is an excellent basis for the mutually beneficial financial cooperation between the two countries. It was underlined that the Forum should emphasise on attracting investments and further enhancing the bilateral cooperation in all sectors.
The following statements were made as the meeting commenced:
Prime Minister: “It is a pleasure to welcome your delegation to Greece. I would like to congratulate everyone involved to ensure that this trip was made so soon after our very successful visit to Abu Dhabi.
I have very ambitious plans on the nature of this affiliation, which will develop into an extensive and comprehensively strategic partnership. I think that this is also the first opportunity for your own team to familiarise with the developments in Greece. As you are surely aware, we are a relatively new government, as we have only been in power for seven months. Yet I think the overall economic environment has already shown a significant shift.
We want to make it crystal clear that Greece is open to investments. We are already generating significant interest for the current developments in Greece. The capital markets are rewarding Greece with record-low rate spreads and rating agencies are upgrading the country’s rating. Overall, there is a pervading sense of optimism and we want to make sure that the UAE is part of this success story.
In this context, it is very positive that you have decided to join us with such an important delegation. Present here are Mr Adonis Georgiadis, Minister of Investments, whom you have already met, Mr Mitarachis, whom you know from his previous position, Mr Fragogiannis, Mr Dimitriadis, our Ambassador, my Diplomatic Adviser, my Economic Adviser and our Press Officer. Of course you have the next meetings lined up; I can see a full schedule and very well-planned agenda ahead.
I believe that by the end of the day, you will be leaving Greece with a much better understanding of what is happening in the country. So, let me welcome you again.”
Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber: “Thank you very much, your Excellency, for your kind words and hospitality. Allow me to start by expressing the warm regards and best wishes of his Highness the President, his Highness the Vice-President, and his Highness the Crown Prince.
The leadership of the UAE, as you know, is very keen and sincerely committed to explore various points of cooperation, to advance the existing common ground and to enter into a comprehensive strategic partnership with a great country like yours.
Myself and the delegation, representing various entities, the Government and the private sector of the UAE, are extremely excited about the potentials of collaboration between our two countries.”
In the course of the meeting, the delegations of both countries discussed matters of mutual interest, in the context of the extended strategic cooperation between Greece and the UAE, the advancement of the countries’ economic relations, as well as regional developments.
Minister of Development and Investments Mr Adonis Georgiadis, Minister of Migration and Asylum Mr Notis Mitarachis, Deputy Minister for Economic Diplomacy and Openness Mr Kostas Fragogiannis, Chief Economic Adviser to the Prime Minister Mr Alexis Patelis, Secretary General for International Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Openness Mr Gregory Dimitriadis, the Greek Ambassador in the UAE Mr Dionisios Zois, the Head of the Prime Minister’s Diplomatic Office Ambassador Ms Eleni Sourani, and the Director of the Prime Minister’s Press Office Mr Dimitris Tsiordas also took part in the meeting.
It is noted that the UAE Minister of State is the head of a delegation of 30 officials, who are presently visiting our country in the framework of the Broader Strategic Cooperation Forum, thus validating the substantial reinforcement of the bilateral relations between Greece and the UAE. This follows the recent visit of the Prime Minister in the UAE.
The UAE Minister of State referred to Greece’s strong presence at the “Expo 2020” exhibition, to be inaugurated in Dubai in October, and gifted the Prime Minister a bracelet with the Expo’s logo.
