PARIS, May 23rd, 2013 (WAM)-- The Abu Dhabi Investment Forum in Paris, organized by Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development with the participation of over 200 businessmen and investors, successfully concluded yesterday in the French capital. The six-panel discussion forum enabled senior officials from a number of government departments, institutions and authorities in Abu Dhabi to address and highlight investment opportunities offered by the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in the sectors of industry, education, energy, business and finance, oil and gas, logistics, transport, tourism and other areas.

During the panel discussion devoted to reviewing investment opportunities in industry in Abu Dhabi, Mohamed Hassan Al Qamzi, CEO of the Higher Corporation for Specialized Economic Zones (ZonesCorp) stressed the importance of investment forums, which the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development organises, as ideal platforms to meet with major international companies and showcase the opportunities offered by the Emirate, which has become an attractive investment destination for investors from around the world.

Al Qamzi said that ZonesCorp was keen to highlight the opportunities and facilities offered to investors in an attractive environment with advanced infrastructure and best international standards for businessmen, along with the provision of facilities and services at competitive prices, for example the new investment zones and areas developed by ZonesCorp, such as Motor City and Workers Residential Cities.

Commenting on the participation of Emal in the Abu Dhabi Investment forum in Paris, Saeed Fadhel Al Mazrooei, Emal's President and CEO, said that the company currently contributes 0.4 % of the UAE's GDP and the company constitutes an essential component in the implementation of the leadership's vision to diversify the national economy and strengthen the stance and position of Abu Dhabi as a global destination for investment and business.

Al Mazrooei said that Emal is proud to raise the motto "Made in Abu Dhabi" and to utilise distinguished UAE expertise and innovations, emphasising the company's intention to increase it's annual output from 800,000 to 1.3 million tons of aluminium per annum by the year 2014, and to become an international and influential name in the world's aluminium industry. Al Mazrooei added that in 2011, the European market imported about 217 thousand tons of aluminium, equivalent to 23% of Emal's total products, including 28 thousand tons exported to France, a figure which grew to 48 thousand tons in 2012. These exports are expected to increase to 35% percent of output in 2013.

Al Mazrooei said that Emal products are exported to 36 countries worldwide including the United States, Japan, Europe and the Middle East.

He disclosed that Emal entered into contracts with a number of French companies, including the ACL Corporation with a US$ 200 million contract.

According to Al Mazrouei, the Emirates Aluminum smelter, Emal, with its advanced technologies and friendly environment, offers the finest aluminum products for its clients in various countries of the world. It is distinguished by stable production and distribution operations to the highest standards of quality, precision and commitment. He explained that the smelter which is located at Taweelah in Abu Dhabi is currently using the production cell technology DX innovative locally to produce 800,000 tons of aluminum per year.

Eng. Suhail Al Ameri, CEO of Senaat, said during the meeting: "Senaat is a key contributor to the industrial sector in Abu Dhabi. It invested more than AED16 billion in the development of this sector since 2004, and its plans constitute a major part of the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, which aims at enhancing the contribution of the industrial sector to the diversification of the Emirate's economy away from hydrocarbons."Al Ameri added; "In Senaat, we reaffirm our openness to potential opportunities with our French partners in the Abu Dhabi Investment Forum in Paris, where we seek to establish global partnerships, in pursuit of our developmental aspirations. We have already entered in many successful joint ventures with French specialist companies, including the joint venture between one of our subsidiaries operating in oil and gas services, the National Petroleum Construction Company, and the French Technip Group.

During a panel session devoted to highlighting investment opportunities in the infrastructure sector, Falah Al Ahbabi , UPC Director General, emphasised that within its efforts to ensure long term comprehensive and sustainable urban development , UPC had launched three major regional framework action plans between 2007 and 2012 to support the development of three main areas in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi: the "Capital Plan 2030" covering the capital of the Emirate, "Al Ain Plan 2030" for the Eastern Region and the "Western Region Plan 2030 ".

Al Ahbabi said that last month the Council submitted the fourth and final plan, the marine and coastal framework plan, known as the "Marine Plan 2030" which complements the three plans. The Marine Plan was prepared to help achieve the objectives set by the Abu Dhabi Vision 2030, and redirect sustainable development initiatives and public and private investment towards the marine and coastal range of Abu Dhabi, while working to harness the opportunities provided by the sheltered waters and diverse ecosystems in the Emirate in recreational activities and encourage eco-tourism.

Al Ahbabi said that the framework action plans prepared by Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council focus on current and future growth sectors identified by the Abu Dhabi economic diversification strategy, noting that Abu Dhabi has demonstrated its ability to avoid the negative effects of the recent financial crisis, due to successful sequence of the development stages.

Al Ahbabi highlighted the effects of the sequential guidelines on vital urban projects which took into account the long-term development goals, by segmenting long-term plans into phases, which catered for transforming plans from theory to practice, pointing out that one of the most immediate benefits of effective urban planning, is to increase the confidence and transparency for investors; with clear prospects and credit which accurately pave the way towards achieving the 2030 vision.

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Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2013.