****************************************************
The Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, today (January 30), urged greater business co-operation between Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Leading a high-level business delegation to the Middle East, Mr Tsang kicked off the UAE leg of his tour with a visit to Abu Dhabi.
Delivering a keynote speech at a luncheon co-organised with the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Chief Executive urged closer economic ties between Hong Kong and the UAE.
ˇ§In 2006, bilateral trade was worth US$3.4 billion, making the UAE our largest trading partner in this part of the world, far ahead of other Middle Eastern countries. I believe we can build on that momentum, ˇ¨ Mr Tsang said.
He highlighted the fact that Hong Kongˇ¦s development of a market for Islamic finance as well as experience and expertise in infrastructure development were two potential areas for further co-operation.
Earlier in the day, Mr Tsang attended a breakfast meeting hosted by the Standard Chartered Bank. He later called on UAEˇ¦s Minister of Economy, H.E. Sheikha Lubna K. Al Qassimi, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, H.H. Sheikh Abdallah Bin Zayid Al Nahyan, the Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, H.H. Sheikh Ahmad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the Head of Planning and Economy Department of Abu Dhabi, H.E. Naser Ahmed Al Suwaidi.
He also met with Mr Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, the Chief Executive Officer of Mubadala Development, the investment and development arm of the Abu Dhabi government.
Mr Tsang will visit the Grand Mosque before travelling to Dubai for the final stop on the trip.
He will return to Hong Kong on February 1.
Ends/Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:52
NNNN