ABU DHABI, Oct. 24th, 2007: The participation of British organizations' in the Tawteen programme is an excellent example of sustained partnership between the UK and the UAE, which we see as the way forward for the future, in which both the government and private sector come together for the greater benefit, His Royal Highness The Duke of York who is on a current visit to the UAE was quoted by a press release by the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi as saying.

HRH The Duke of York is visiting Abu Dhabi this week in his role as the UK's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, to help forge stronger ties between the UK and UAE. UK Trade & Investment is the lead government organisation that provides support for UK companies looking to develop international business. It also provides support for UK overseas companies wishing to invest in the UK.

Prince Edward made his remarks in a speech on Tuesday 23 October at a reception co-hosted by the British Ambassador to the UAE, Edward Oakden, and CEO of International Power, Mr Philip Cox in the presence of His Royal Highness The Duke of York, and in association with the Emirates Foundation, to celebrate both the Emirates Foundation's Tawteen programme and the awarding of an important contract in the UAE to International Power which has three major investments in Abu Dhabi, within the power and water sector the third being the Fujairah F2 project.

In his speech, Prince Edward thanked the sponsors and also the Emirates Foundation and wished them all the best for the future.

"In particular, warm thanks to International Power for supporting this event. They are an excellent example of the way a British company can contribute and build relations", he added.

The British Ambassador also praised the Tawteen programme and emphasized the importance of British companies and organizations working in partnership with the UAE on initiatives such as these.

The Duke of York will take part in a lunch with leading representatives of the UAE financial sector, according to the British Embassy Paying "tribute to the efforts being made by the leading British organizations and companies which are working with us in developing future Emirati talent, Emirates Foundation Managing Director Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh said "the success of the Tawteen pilot projects is highly important to the UAE." He said he looks forward to continued British involvement", adding that the Emirates Foundation will do "(their) best to translate Emirati governmental and private sector interest into practical long term support for these projects." Expressing strong belief "in giving back to the community" Philip Cox, CEO of International Power said the organization "sponsor(s) projects throughout the world as part of this commitment." "We are very proud to be one of the champions of the Tawteen initiative. International Power is the champion of the Vocational Awareness Project where we will be producing a DVD and other material to be shown in schools and malls to increase awareness among children of the many opportunities for vocational employment. Our current business and our future business would not be possible without harnessing the energy and power of the people in whose countries we invest", added Cox.

A key strand of the UAE-UK relationship is in financial services, where the UK is a world leader and the Gulf region a fast growing global player. This is thanks to its stability, innovation, high level skills, a tradition of openness, appropriate regulation and a competitive tax environment a springboard for global growth.

For its part, the Gulf region and UAE in particular is fast rising as a key player in the world of international finance with extensive liquidity and increasingly sophisticated financial markets.

The visit by The Duke of York is part of a wider programme of engagement between the two countries on financial services. Based on developing relations in fields ranging from Islamic Finance to financial regulation and Education, Training and Qualifications (ETQ), the aim of this effort is to build a strong partnership with the UAE in financial services that will prosper even more in the future.

Following The Duke of Yorks visit, said the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi, "the Lord Mayor of London will visit the Gulf in February-March 2008 with a sizable delegation from the City to further develop the close links between the UK and nascent financial centres of the region." On Tuesday, The Emirates Foundation hosted the 2007 Tawteen Progress Event the second phase in its drive to empower young nationals through the creation of meaningful employment opportunities throughout the UAE. During the Event, eight initial Tawteen projects were announced by the individual project champions, which included five British companies and organizations: BP, Shell, Rolls Royce, International Power and the British Council.

The eight projects cover career guidance counseling; youth leadership development; industry and academic summer schools; career resource centres; internships in the private sector; empowering women in the workplace; entrepreneurship & innovation and vocational training awareness.