Khaleej Times quoted Ms Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi minister of foreign trade as saying that UAE is very interested in further boosting its cooperation with the US particularly in trade and investment and opening up new avenues of collaboration in future in lighting of the available, diverse opportunities in these two sectors.

She underlined during talks with visiting US Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business, and Agricultural Affairs Mr Robert Hormats the importance of the role the Small and Medium Enterprises could play in bolstering joint economic cooperation. Shaikha Lubna also stressed the need for sharing expertise and ideas on best methods to improve SMEs performance and export capacity so as to compete in international markets.

Ms Shaikha Lubna informed the US official about the UAE's strengths in the renewable energy sector which US companies can tap to expand their operations in the UAE market through joint strategic investment partnerships. The US official asserted the UAE would remain an important player in the Middle East and acts as leverage for boosting the US bonds with the region given its status as a world trade hub and a key market for US exports in the region.

Meanwhile, Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, minister of state for foreign affairs, received a US delegation led by Undersecretary of State for Economic, Business, and Agricultural Affairs Mr Robert Hormats. Dr Gargash and Mr Hormats discussed a number of topics of mutual concern.

The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on economic policies dialogue between the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and US State Department. The MoU provides for an annual platform for joint coordination on ways to boost economic and trade relations.

(Sourced from www.khaleejtimes.com)