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UAE Freezones Biz News Updates
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Netherlands to participate in Dubai Expo 2020
The Netherlands, one of the world's most innovative economies, will take
part in Expo 2020 Dubai, it was announced today.
 The
Netherlands confirmed its official participation in a letter from Prime
Minister Mark Rutte to Sheikh Mohammed.
The Dutch were last year ranked ninth on the Global Innovation Index, which
lists world economies based on their capability for innovation and results.
The UAE has set an objective of joining the Netherlands in the top 10 by
2021 and the two countries have already set out a series of ways in which
they can work together more closely in a number of sectors, including
through participation in Expo 2020 Dubai, according to an official press
release of the Expo 2020.
Through its overall theme, 'Connecting Minds, Creating the Future', the
first World Expo in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia will be a
platform to foster creativity, innovation and collaboration globally. It
will be a festival of ingenuity that gives people a glimpse into the future,
guided by its three pillars: Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability.
The Netherlands confirmed its official participation in a letter from Prime
Minister Mark Rutte to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,
Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
The letter was delivered to Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of
the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee, by Frank Mollen, Ambassador of the
Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Sheikh Ahmed said, "Expo 2020 Dubai will be a place where the world comes
together to celebrate the best in ingenuity and innovation and a chance to
work in unison on solutions to some of the most pressing problems the world
is facing not only today but in the future."
"We welcome the participation of The Netherlands, an important collaborator
on the road to Expo 2020 Dubai and beyond," he added.
Prime Minister Rutte said, "Expo 2020 Dubai will offer a positive message to
people in the region and in the rest of the world, through an exchange of
cutting-edge knowledge and expertise.
"We look forward to making a meaningful contribution to your positive
message, and to work with your country to make Expo 2020 a success," he
added.
The Netherlands Ambassador added, "The Netherlands was one of the first
countries to publicly back Dubai's bid to host the World Expo and today's
announcement shows that our support for Expo 2020 Dubai is unwavering.
"Expo 2020 Dubai will be an unmissable opportunity for The Netherlands to
showcase what our nation can achieve and join other countries from around
the world in building a better future for us all," he added.
The announcement follows the recent visit of a delegation led by Sultan bin
Saeed Al Mansouri, UAE Minister of Economy, to The Netherlands.
Non-oil trade between the countries
Foreign non-oil trade between the countries amounted to about Dh11 billion
in 2015, while in 2016, there were more than 200 Dutch companies registered
with Dubai Chamber. It is estimated that about 5,000 Dutch nationals live in
the UAE.
One of the other sectors in which both countries hope to strengthen ties is
health care. Abdul Rahman bin Mohamed Al Owais, UAE Minister of Health and
Prevention, and Mollen recently discussed strengthening co-operation between
the two countries in this field ahead of a meeting between the UAE and Dutch
Ministers of Health next month.
The Netherlands joins a growing number of other countries that have either
publicly or privately confirmed their participation in Expo 2020 Dubai.
More than 180 nations are expected to participate in the event, which opens
on 20th October, 2020 and closes six months later, on April 10, 2021.
March 20, 2017
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Courtesy Khaleej Times
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