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Category: UAE News

Sharjah, Paris discuss cultural opportunities
The discussions were held on sidelines of the French Ambassador’s visit on Monday to the 39th Sharjah International Book Fair, SIBF…reports Asian Lite News

Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Chairman of Sharjah Book Authority, SBA, and Xavier Chatel, Ambassador of France to the UAE have discussed developing joint cultural programmes to facilitate the opening of new horizons of dialogue and communication between Emirati publishers and their French counterparts, and expand collaborative efforts and joint initiatives.

The discussions were held on sidelines of the French Ambassador’s visit on Monday to the 39th Sharjah International Book Fair, SIBF.

Accompanied by Ahmed Al Ameri on the tour, Chatel met with participating French publishers, as well as the representatives of local, Arab and international publishing houses.
They discussed the key role SIBF plays this year in offering an impetus to the global publishing industry, in light of the challenging circumstances publishing businesses and creative industries alike are facing in both Arab and international markets, in the wake of Covid-19.

Al Ameri talked about the annual exhibitions, events and cultural initiatives organised by SBA, including SIBF and the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival, and Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone, SPCFZ, explaining to him the plethora of facilities and competitive advantages businesses can avail in the world’s first free zone dedicated to the publishing, printing and allied businesses.

Also read:Sharjah leads crucial WAIPA regional meeting
9 November 2020
UAE, Uzbekistan discuss boosting ties

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, on Monday received Sardor Umurzakov, Uzbek Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, and his delegation at Qasr Al Watan.

During the meeting, both sides discussed the bilateral ties between the UAE and Uzbekistan in the areas of investment and commerce, as well as ways of reinforcing and developing them to achieve their mutual interests. They also exchanged opinions on several regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Umurzakov wrote a statement on the VIP guest book at Qasr Al Watan expressing his happiness and pride at the bilateral ties between the UAE and Uzbekistan and hoping for their relations to develop and grow, to achieve the aspirations of their leaderships and peoples.

Also read:UAE,Italy FMs chair 4th strategic dialogue

9 November 2020
UAE,Italy FMs chair 4th strategic dialogue
Sheikh Abdullah and his Italian counterpart discussed cooperative relations between the two countries across a number of fields, including economic, commercial and cultural….reports Asian Lite News

The UAE and Italy on Sunday held the fourth strategic dialogue between the two countries in Abu Dhabi, under the chairmanship of Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Luigi Di Maio, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Sheikh Abdullah and his Italian counterpart discussed cooperative relations between the two countries across a number of fields, including economic, commercial and cultural.

The two sides exchanged views on the latest developments in the region, notably Libya and Iran, and discussed a number of regional and international issues of common interest, in addition to developments in the eastern Mediterranean.

The two officials also discussed the latest developments on COVID-19 and the efforts of the two countries to combat the pandemic, while supporting global efforts in developing a vaccine.

Sheikh Abdullah and Luigi Di Maio stressed the importance of strategic UAE-Italy dialogue in strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries and developing joint cooperation across all sectors.
UAE FM welcomed Di Maio and his accompanying delegation, stressing the distinguished Emirati-Italian relations and joint work and their importance in achieving common interests.

Sheikh Abdullah said that the current challenges brought by the pandemic necessitate that countries strengthen joint international action to contain its effects, especially on the health sector and the economy, and move forward on the path of sustainable development.

For his part, the Italian Minister praised the distinguished bilateral relations between the UAE and Italy and the continuous development of joint cooperation between the two nations.

The strategic dialogue was attended by Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of State, and a number of senior officials from both sides.

Also read:UAE ambassador meets King of Norway
9 November 2020
‘SIBF fee exemption will help Lebanese publishers’

As per the directions of Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, Lebanese Publishing Houses participating in the Sharjah International Book Fair, SIBF 2020, has been exempted from the pavilion rental fees.

The decision and directives of His Highness comes in line with Sharjah’s continuous support to Lebanon’s libraries and publishing houses, in light of the explosion in the Port of Beirut.

The value of the exemptions amounts to AED 640,000, contributing in supporting the work of various Lebanon’s publishing houses.

Commenting on this, Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Chairman of Sharjah Book Authority, SBA, has lauded the grant of Sheikh Sultan, stressing that such gestures expand friendship and support several brotherly and friendly countries.

Al Ameri emphasised that the initiative reaffirms Sharjah’s leading position as an incubator of Arab culture and a creative hub that attracts intellectuals, adding that His Highness had previously ordered the exemption of Syrian and Egyptian publishers and other publishers whose countries were suffering exceptional circumstances and crises.

He concluded, “We hope that the initiative will help the Lebanese publishing market, especially as it comes a day after the announcement of the grant of the Ruler of Sharjah, amounting to AED 10 million, intended to support publishers, and to open the way for them to overcome the challenges that the spread of the COVID-19 has imposed on the publishing sector on the Arab and international scene.”

Also Read: Nobel laureates, Oscar winners will headline SIBF

8 November 2020
UAE ambassador meets King of Norway

Al Mehairbi conveyed to the Norwegian King the greetings of President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai…reports Asian Lite News

Mohammed Hareb Al Mehairbi presented his credentials to King Harald V of Norway as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the UAE to the Kingdom of Norway at the Royal Palace in Oslo.

Al Mehairbi conveyed to the Norwegian King the greetings of President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai; and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and their wishes for his country and people further progress and prosperity.

King Harald V reciprocated his greetings to the UAE leaders, wishing the people of the UAE further progress and growth. He also wished the UAE Ambassador success in his assignment in strengthening bilateral relations in various fields, stressing his country’s readiness to provide all possible support to facilitate his tasks.

The UAE Ambassador expressed his pride in representing the UAE in Norway and his keenness to strengthen ties in a way that contributes to reinforcing the bonds of friendship between the two countries.

During the meeting, areas of cooperation between the two countries were discussed, as well as ways of developing them in order to achieve the interests and aspirations of the two friendly nations and peoples.

Also read:G-20: UAE takes part in 3rd Sherpa meeting

8 November 2020
G-20: UAE takes part in 3rd Sherpa meeting
The UAE attended in its capacity as a guest invitee at the G-20 Summit, which will take place virtually in November 2020….reports Asian Lite News

Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, UAE Minister of State, participated in the Third Extraordinary Group of 20, G-20, Sherpa Meeting, held virtually from October 27-29.

The UAE attended in its capacity as a guest invitee at the G-20 Summit, which will take place virtually in November 2020.

The Sherpa Meeting gathered official representatives from G-20 members to further progress discussions and find consensus for the wording of the Leaders’ Declaration, as all Ministerial Meetings and Working Groups have now concluded their meetings for the year.

The meeting also saw the participation of Abdulnasser Alshaali, Assistant Minister for Economic and Trade Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Sous-Sherpa.
Reflecting on the Meeting, Al Sayegh commended the work of all of the Sherpas and expressed confidence in concluding this year’s work with an impactful and positive message: “As we approach the Leaders’ Summit, I am continuously impressed by my counterparts in their passion and dedication to coming together to find common ground. I’m confident that the work we’ve been able to do will help pave the way to building back better – ensuring an inclusive recovery – and tackling the most pressing challenges of both today and tomorrow, together.”

In December 2019, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia invited the UAE, in its capacity as current Chair of the GCC, to engage in the 2020 G-20 process.

Established in 1999, the G-20 Summit is an annual gathering of representatives of the world’s largest economies that works to strengthen international economic cooperation. This year’s theme under Saudi Arabia’s G-20 presidency is “Realizing Opportunities of the 21st Century for All,” with the broad aims of “Empowering People, Safeguarding the Planet, and Shaping New Frontiers.”

Also read:Israel set to commence agro exports to the UAE
30 October 2020
SIBF publisher’s conference begins on Sunday

Sharjah will be the cynosure of all eyes in the global publishing industry this Sunday, as the 10th Publishers Conference is inaugurated at the Expo Centre Sharjah.

The three-day event organised by the Sharjah Book Authority, SBA, opens ahead of the official opening of the 39th Sharjah International Book Fair, SIBF, on 4th November, 2020.

More than 317 publishing professionals and 33 speakers including traditional and ePublishers from around the globe, rights professionals, publishing consultants, lawyers and other industry experts will participate in the event, which will host eight panel discussions on the key issues and challenges facing the publishing sector in the region and around the world.

The conference will be live-streamed on the Zoom platform and can be accessed through the following link:
https://bit.ly/37NWOSH

Also Read: Iconic Sharjah Int’l Book Fair To Begin On Nov 4

Also Read: Beirut blast: Sharjah pledges relief fund for affected publishers

30 October 2020
UAE participates in first session of Arab Parliament in Cairo
The session also presented a report on the region’s political and security developments, especially the situations in Yemen, Libya, Lebanon and Iraq…reports Asian Lite News

The Federal National Council, FNC, Parliamentary Division participated in the first session of the first ordinary term of the third legislative chapter of the Arab Parliament, held on Tuesday at the headquarters of the Secretariat-General of the Arab League.

Mohammed Ahmed Al Yamahi, Vice President of the Arab Parliament and member of UAE Parliamentary Division, highlighted the importance of today’s session, which is being held following the selection of Adel Al Asoumi as President of the parliament while hoping that the parliament, under his presidency, will accomplish achievements on an Arab level, especially during this critical period when many Arab nations are facing crisis, in addition to the coronavirus pandemic, which is affecting the economies of Arab countries and the rest of the world.
Al Yamahi also commended the support of Arab leaders, most notably President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for the parliament and their efforts to reinforce its role in facing regional challenges.

The political, economic, social and legal committees submitted their reports and recommendations to the parliament for approval, he added while pointing out that these reports addressed key Arab issues, most notably the Palestinian cause.

The session also presented a report on the region’s political and security developments, especially the situations in Yemen, Libya, Lebanon and Iraq, he said in conclusion.

Also read:UAE, India to bolster defence ties
29 October 2020
UAE takes part in ISARC in Japan

The UAE, represented by the ministry, will host the 38th edition of the ISARC in 2021, which shall be held under the slogan, “Tomorrow is Today: Co-Creating the Future of Infrastructure 5.0.”…reports Asian Lite News

The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure showcased the smart applications it adopted through various projects, during its participation in the 37th International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction, ISARC, held via video conferencing in Kitakyushu, Japan.

The two-day conference is a global gathering of specialists and scientists in the use of automation and robotics in construction, which showcases the latest artificial intelligence, AI, technologies.

Contributions from all continents at ISARC provide the major platform for delegates to exchange views and information and discuss how they might work together on new projects.

The ministry presented five research papers explained by specialist officers on the use of neural network technology to predict risks in the planning stage of construction projects; the use of automatic verification to detect the quality of road signs and layouts by using a visual detection mechanism for machine learning; modern trends in monitoring data related to projects overseen by the ministry and traffic data on the federal road network; the UAE’s AI strategy, and self-checking robotics algorithms used in construction projects.

The participants of the conference stressed that the ministry aims to harness and invest in AI technologies, to develop the energy, infrastructure, housing and transport sectors.

The UAE, represented by the ministry, will host the 38th edition of the ISARC in 2021, which shall be held under the slogan, “Tomorrow is Today: Co-Creating the Future of Infrastructure 5.0.”

Also read:Food dialogue discusses the scope of UAE-India food corridor

29 October 2020
Food dialogue discusses the scope of UAE-India food corridor

Increasing cooperation between the UAE and India on food security and the UAE-India Food Corridor are two major factors expected to expand bilateral trade and investment in the future, said industry experts speaking at the India-UAE Food Dialogue.

The virtual event, recently co-organised by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Mumbai office and Confederation of Indian Industry, CII, on the sidelines of India International Food & Agri Week, was attended by 310 participants from India, the UAE and other markets, including businessmen, industry stakeholders and policymakers.

Presentations and discussions during the event examined the strengthening economic partnership between the UAE and India and the growing importance of food security to the UAE’s strategic vision, while panellists said India has a lot to contribute in this area as the country is on its way to becoming the world’s food basket.

Commenting on the investment potential for infrastructure, logistics and sourcing for the UAE-India Food Corridor, industry experts revealed that the UAE–India Food Corridor project is expected to see investments of US$7 billion from the UAE in developing dedicated logistics infrastructure connecting farms to ports in India, adding that the initiative has the potential to triple India-UAE food trade over the next five years.

Omar Khan, Director of International Offices at Dubai Chamber, said the India-UAE Food Dialogue offered participants valuable insights on UAE-India trade ties, which have evolved and strengthened after the two countries announced a comprehensive strategic partnership – a move that has paved the way for increased cooperation across several industries and fields.

Khan added that the Dubai Chamber’s representative office in India is playing a crucial role in building bridges of cooperation between the UAE and Indian business communities.

Ahmad Sultan Al Falahi, Commercial Attaché, Embassy of UAE in India, highlighted that food wastage in India is valued at a staggering $12.5 billion and a strong logistics infrastructure for farms to port can be a huge enabler in reducing food waste.

Piruz Khambatta, Chairman of the CII National Committee on Special Abilities and CII Task Force on Ease of Doing Business & Chairman & Managing Director, Rasna International, shared his insights on other major initiatives in the pipeline that aim to boost India’s food trade, including new bills introduced to empower the farmers in India by giving them direct access to the market, the self-reliant India initiative packages providing benefits, subsidies and low-interest loans for the food sector.

Also Read: UAE, India to bolster defence ties

29 October 2020