ABU DHABI, 16th December, 2022 (WAM) -- Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, headed an Emirati delegation visiting Ireland, with the aim of encouraging economic and trade cooperation in the areas of fintech, logistics, trade and small and medium-sized enterprises.

During the visit, Al Zeyoudi held a range of important meetings, including with Leo Varadkar, Deputy Prime Minister of Ireland and Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, to discuss ways of encouraging trade exchange between the two countries.

He also met with Hildegarde Naughton, Minister of State at the Department of Transport, to discuss opportunities for joint cooperation.

The visit witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries aimed at organising political talks to strengthen their stances on issues of mutual concern.

Al Zeyoudi also met with Kevin Sherry, Executive Director of Enterprise Ireland, to discuss several plans aimed at creating a culture of innovation and enhancing their cooperation in supporting SMEs.

Al Zeyoudi stressed that the visit affirms the keenness of the UAE and Ireland to advance their relations, noting that they share the will to create an SME culture and establish new industries.

"Logistics, transport, renewable energy, fintech and trade are among the key sectors of the future cooperation between the two countries," he said.

The non-oil foreign trade between the two countries amounted to US$758 million in the first nine months of 2022, a rise of 16 percent compared to the same period in 2021, and grew by 32.4 percent and 48.3 percent over the same period in 2020 and 2019, respectively.

The Emirati delegation included Mohammed Al Shamsi, UAE Ambassador to Ireland, Rashid Abdul Karim Al Balushi, Under-Secretary of the Department of Economic Development in Abu Dhabi, and Sharif Habib Al Awadi, Director-General of the Fujairah Free Zone Authority, and others.