XXXXXX said.

Lord Marland said that political and economic relations between his country and the UAE have become stronger, in view of the development of joint trade and investment relations between the two sides, adding that the United Kingdom applauds the progress of the UAE's achievements at all levels, especially in economy and trade, as the UAE stands as models for development and growth among the states of the Middle East region.

Samir Brikho, Chief Executive of AMEC, Head of the British Group in the UAE-British Business Council, delivered a speech in which he stressed the importance of the seven joint working groups in many different areas and sectors, and hailed their role in promoting economic cooperation and investment between the two countries.

The Council meeting also focused on the importance of activating the role of SMEs and business incubators, where the Emirati side explained the need for British experience to develop this important sector in the UAE, lauding the role of the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development and the Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for Young Entrepreneurs, which both contribute to the growth and development of these projects at the State level.

The UAE participants in the meeting were Abdulrahman Al Ghurair, Chairman of Dubai Chamber and First Deputy chairman of the Council, Ahmed Mohammed Al Madfaa, Chairman of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Council's Second Vice-Chairman, Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Chamber, Mohamed Hassan Al Qemzi, CEO of the Higher Corporation for Specialized Economic Zones, Fahad Saeed Al Raqbani, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development, Dr. Saif Sultan Al-Nassiri, Business Manager, Director General of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company ADNOC, Raja Easa Al Gurg, Executive Director of Easa Al Gurg Group, Marwan Faraj bin Hamoodah, member of the Board of Directors of bin Hamoodah Group, and Suhail Aqeel Al-Banna, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, Dubai World Ports.

During the meeting, the two sides put emphasis on the education and health sectors, and the role of education and joint health teams in strengthening cooperation, benefiting from accumulated experience through the launching of training courses and specialized institutions.

It was agreed to hold the fifth meeting of the Council in the UAE, with the participation of representatives of small and medium-sized enterprises of the two countries, to participate by organising a joint trade mission to a third country.

The Council continued its work agenda within the meetings of the Joint Economic Committee between the United Kingdom and U.A.E, revising past meetings, notably in investment and trade, and the roles and participation in areas of business community, technical cooperation, information exchange and visas, and follow-up mechanisms with focus on the seven priority sectors for the next phase.

The British side served a dinner in honour of visiting UAE delegation, which was attended by Howard Bernstein ? Chief Executive of Manchester City Council, who lauded the UAE- British Business Council's role in strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries in the economic field, expressing confidence that the Council would achieve positive results that will benefit the economic relations between the two countries, especially in promoting trade and economic partnerships.

The members of the delegation of the United Arab Emirates and British sides on the sidelines of the fourth meeting, watched the Manchester City vs Norwich City football match at Etihad Stadium in the final round of the Premier League.

Statistics show that trade between the UAE and Britain continued to increase as the total trade between the two countries reached ?10 billion (AED59.57 billion) in 2011, an increase of 21% compared to 2010. The two nations aim to achieve a target of bilateral trade of ?12 billion (AED 71.49 billion) by 2015.

The total number of British companies operating in the UAE has now reached 4,000, with 779 commercial agencies and 4762 British brands, investing in the UAE cover areas of Islamic banking services, exhibitions, conferences, energy, electricity, water desalination, air transport of passengers and goods, gas production, hotels, restaurants, travel, tourism, high technology, information technology and management, planning, supervision and wholesale of telecommunication products, logistic services, cargo transportation services, real estate, aircraft structures and components, industry pottery, ceramics, leisure sectors, sports and money exchange, and the retail sector.

The most important UAE companies investing in United Kingdom include ADNOC, ENOC, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB), Dana Gas Wells, Masdar, the Abu Dhabi Investment Company, Abu Dhabi Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), Abu Dhabi National Hotels (ADNH), Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company (ADNIC), Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) and many others.

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2013.