Abu Dhabi, Dec 07th, 2011 (WAM) -- Ministry of Foreign Trade launched today the UAE Electronic Trade Relations Map and released the second edition of its investment guide 'Why UAE?'.

The launching ceremony held at the Emirates Palace today came amidst the ongoing celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the UAE National Day.

Addressing the ceremony, Minister of Foreign Trade Sheikh Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi congratulated the countrys wise leadership represented by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and Their Highnesses the members of the Federal Supreme Council, the Rulers of the UAE on the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of the formation of the Union and the establishment of the country.

"Our celebration this year is special as it marks the passing of four decades full of work and achievement that commenced with the labor of the early stage of nation building, lead by the wisdom, competence and largess in giving, and unreservedness in devotion and exertion of the founder of the UAE and the builder of its renaissance and glory, the late Sheikha Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan", said Sheikha Lubna.

That phase saw the implementation of ambitious development plans and programs that affected all walks of life and put in place strong foundations in the march of progress and prosperity that prevailed, with its bounty, across the entire country.

Moreover, the Economic Strategy adopted by the UAE since its founding, to date, has succeeded in diversifying sources of income and achieving economic openness, contributing to the creation of the second largest Arab economy, where GDP rose from AED 6.5 Billion in 1971 to surpass AED 1 Trillion in 2010. The value of non-oil foreign trade has also risen from AED 3 Billion in 1972 to AED 754 Billion in 2010 - increasing 251 times. It is without a doubt that these policies have contributed towards increasing the contribution of non-oil sectors to the GDP from 10% in 1971 to 70% in 2010, and have paved the way for the transition into a new economic phase that is based on the ambitious vision of our wise leadership, the minister noted.

"In continuation of its efforts on the path of excellence and providing effective institutional services that are aimed at increasing the awareness and knowledge of the private sector regarding the countrys trade policies and the latest developments that are related to its trade and investment relations with world countries, the Ministry of Foreign Trade is pleased to launch the Trade Relations Map", said Sheikha Lubna.

The initiative is the first interactive and dynamic bilingual Arabic and English website of its kind in the region that provides economic, trade and investment information on world countries based on a series of international reports issued by international organizations and on data on UAE investments abroad and trade between the UAE and world countries, in a user-friendly manner that enables investors and exporters to acquire relevant and essential information to discover new markets.

The second edition of MoFT's UAE investment promotion book Why UAE? in the English language was also released in the ceremony. The nine chapter book is a foreign investors targeted information gateway about the UAE and the components its national economy, its available investment opportunities, its promising economic sectors and the laws and legislations governing its economic and investment process.

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2011.