Northern Ireland Executive
17 Nov 2021, 17:30 GMT+10
Economy Minister Gordon Lyons has met His Excellency Abdoulla Bin Touq Al Marri - the UAE Economy Minister - on the final part of his trade and investment trip to Dubai.
The Minster met with his UAE counterpart on a visit to Expo 2020 Dubai.
Mr Lyons said: "The meeting with His Excellency Abdoulla Bin Touq Al Marri was important and productive. We discussed the impact of Expo 2020 and the opportunities for trade and investment between Northern Ireland and UAE. Throughout this short visit, I have been impressed with the progress Northern Ireland companies have made in building business out here and, of course, I am keen for this to continue."
Expo 2020 Dubai is the world's largest live international event with over 190 countries taking part. Northern Ireland is collaborating with the Department for International Trade on the UK Pavilion at the six-month long show, which after being postponed due to Covid-19 in 2020, started in October 2021.
The Minister said: "Northern Ireland has long been known for its entrepreneurial and innovative spirit. Expo 2020 Dubai provides a unique opportunity to share this story and showcase all that we have to offer.
"During my visit to the UK Pavilion, I saw first-hand how the unique innovations of Northern Ireland companies including See.Sense, Ulster Carpets and CropSafe are being showcased in an immersive experience to visitors from around the world. I also had the opportunity to meet with Londonderry-based Joule Group, Lisburn's Lowe Rental and Newtownabbey's Environmental Street Furniture who have all secured significant contracts to supply their services to the Expo."
On 16 February 2022, under the UK's theme of 'Innovating for a shared future' Northern Ireland will take over the UK Pavilion, bringing a flavour of Northern Ireland to the world and sharing the best of Northern Ireland and our people; from culture to tourism, business to education.
The Minister continued: "The Northern Ireland day underpins the very definition of my Department's 10X Economic Vision, to embrace innovation to deliver a ten times better economy with benefits for all our people. As we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic, our plans are to use this special day to apply our infamous entrepreneurial spirit with renewed energy and focus."
The Minister also joined a Tourism Ireland networking event where he heard from tourism providers on their efforts to attract visitors to Northern Ireland.
Steve Harper, Invest NI's Executive Director of International Business, said: "There have been over half a million visitors to Expo 2020 Dubai. This is a great platform to raise Northern Ireland's profile and inspire visitors to learn more about Northern Ireland. From education to tourism, business to culture, food and innovation, Northern Ireland is an integral part of the six-month programme at the UK pavilion, where I am pleased that we will also host a special Northern Ireland Day this coming February.
"From this visit, it is clear that we are using this unique opportunity as a platform to bring a taste of Northern Ireland to the UAE and to the many international visitors who will walk through those iconic Expo gates."
Get a daily dose of Irish Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Irish Sun.
More InformationTHE HAGUE, Netherlands: NATO is pressing ahead with a sweeping new defense spending target, calling on all 32 member nations to commit...
NEW YORK, U.S.: A political newcomer is on the verge of reshaping New York City politics. Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old state assemblyman...
MADISON, Wisconsin: Tens of millions of residents across the Midwest and East Coast faced dangerously high temperatures over the weekend...
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza - Seven Israeli soldiers were killed in a large explosion in southern Gaza's Khan Younis area on Tuesday night,...
DUBAI, U.A.E.: Iran's top clerics are quietly accelerating succession plans for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was threatened...
BEIJING, China: Extreme weather is once again testing China's resilience, as intensifying monsoon rains trigger floods across major...
THE HAGUE, Netherlands: NATO is pressing ahead with a sweeping new defense spending target, calling on all 32 member nations to commit...
DUBLIN, Ireland: Bus Éireann has told the Labour Court that it lost 4.2 million euros in 2024 and expects to lose a similar amount...
DUBLIN, Ireland: U2's legendary guitarist, The Edge, has hailed June 23 as a monumental day after he officially became an Irish citizen....
DUBLIN, Ireland: Fifteen Irish citizens and their dependents have been evacuated from Israel due to the heightened state of alert over...
DUBLIN, Ireland: Dublin Airport has received a warning for going over its allowed number of passengers. As part of a rule set by...
ANKARA, Turkey: A Turkish far-right politician went on trial Wednesday, facing charges of inciting public hatred—an episode critics...