Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, headed a high-level UAE delegation to Bern and Basel, Switzerland, where he met senior government officials and private-sector leaders to strengthen economic collaboration and foster investment flows between the two nations.
The visit sought to build on growing UAE-Swiss ties, which in 2023 saw non-oil trade reach a total value of US$22.3 billion – a 41.2 percent increase in 2022.
During the visit, Al Zeyoudi and Switzerland's State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Helene Budliger Artieda, applauded the growing bilateral trade and inaugurated the Swiss-UAE Economic Forum in Bern, facilitating discussions on investment and partnership possibilities. Al Zeyoudi emphasized the enduring UAE-Switzerland ties during the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, highlighting Switzerland's significance as a valued trade partner and expressing a shared commitment to long-term economic growth through knowledge and innovation.
The Minister cited recent UAE-Swiss collaboration in fields such as alternative fuels, trade finance, biotech and med-tech research as evidence of the potential for greater economic integration. He also promoted the advantages of the UAE's dynamic business landscape to Swiss businesses seeking to expand into markets in Asia and Africa, including its strategic location, and world-class infrastructure and logistics capabilities.
Swiss cybersecurity firm ZENDATA is a recent addition to the country's NextGen FDI programme, which helps cutting-edge companies from around the world establish or expand their operations in the UAE.
While in Switzerland, Al Zeyoudi and the accompanying delegation visited leading Swiss private-sector companies, including the headquarters of Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis, where they discussed prospects for partnerships in line with the UAE's newly established Emirates Drug Establishment, of which Al Zeyoudi is the Chair of the Board of Directors.
Tours also included Swiss aircraft manufacturer Pilatus, which develops, produces, and sells aircraft worldwide. Pilatus partners with the UAE's Strata to boost advanced manufacturing capabilities in the nation and support its knowledge-based economy.
Beyond government officials, the UAE delegation comprised senior executives of businesses representing high-growth industries, such as banking and finance, aviation, trade and investment, healthcare, and advanced technology, including representatives from the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dubai Chambers, Emirates Airline, M42, the Abu Dhabi-based global healthcare company, Etihad Credit Insurance, Ajman Chamber of Commerce, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Hub71, and others.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
