Vice President and Prime Minister of U.A.E. and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, on Tuesday met with Heads of State of six member countries of West African Economic & Monetary Union (UEMOA) participating in the inaugural West Africa Investment Forum at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai.
During the meetings, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid had exchanges on the items of the agenda of the one-day forum with President of Benin, Yayi Boni, President of Cote d Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara, President of Senegal, Macky Sall, President of Burkina Faso, Blaise Compaore, President of Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou, President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbe, as well as with the speaker of Guinea Bissau's Parliament, Cipriano Cassama, Mali's Minister of Trade, Abdel Karim Konate.
Welcoming the heads of states and heads of the participating delegates to U.A.E., H.H. Sheikh Mohammed expressed his desire that the historic relations between U.A.E. and African countries should develop at all levels and in all spheres towards a real partnership of mutual benefit and reflect positively on the lives of the peoples of U.A.E. and African countries.
Praising the support provided by most African countries for U.A.E.'s bid to host World Expo in Dubai in 2020, His Highness the vice president noted that the votes and support of fraternal and friendly countries, in Africa in particular, made it possible for Dubai to win the honour of hosting the mega event.
Describing U.A.E. as an open gateway and a connection hub between Africa and the rest of the world, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid expressed his desire for opening a new page in the U.A.E.-African relations based on common denominators between the two sides and taking into consideration the interests of peoples of all involved countries.
Emphasising that there are many common denominators between the peoples of U.A.E. and African countries, he noted that it is time that solid foundations were laid for desired relations fulfilling the higher interests of all parties.
H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid also reiterated that U.A.E. is putting the diverse human resources and expertise in most sectors at the disposal of the fraternal and friendly countries, and African countries, particularly African countries that are rich in natural resources, culture and labourers.
"If these elements are brought together to work for the interests of all parties, there will no longer be anything impossible for Africa, and especially if the continent enhances this potential with willingness, confidence and a true desire, it can make miracles and all of us can reach our target and fulfil the aspirations of our peoples," concluded H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
The one-day inaugural West Africa Investment Forum was co-organised in Dubai by the West African Economic & Monetary Union (UEMOA), the West African Development Bank (BOAD) and international corporate finance and advisory firm Global Finance & Capital Limited (GFCL), in order to highlight infrastructure investment opportunities in West Africa and bring together key stakeholders for the formal announcement of a series of large-scale infrastructure developments in West African countries.
On his part, President of Benin, Yayi Boni, thanked the leaders of U.A.E. for the generosity and hospitality accorded to the African leaders and the participants in the forum in Dubai.
Praising H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid as a leader of U.A.E. Cabinet and for his success in making Dubai beat many cities around the world in terms of progress, President Boni noted that the presidents of UEMOA member countries see H.H. Sheikh Mohammed as an exemplary leader who represents a source of inspiration and innovation for them in their quest for achieving development and progress in their respective countries.
He also noted UEMOA member countries chose Dubai as the host city of their meetings because it is a global metropolis and a meeting point where all cultures and civilisations peacefully coexist and where these African countries seek to highlight their potential and attract investors from public and private sectors.
President Boni also thanked H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid for his keen interest and effective assistance in building cultural, investment and economic bridges between UEMOA countries and U.A.E. under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
At the end of the meeting, President of Senegal, Macky Sall, presented Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashimy, U.A.E. Minister of State, with UEMOA's Medal of the First Order in appreciation for her contribution to opening new channels of communication between U.A.E. and the member countries of the union during her meeting with officials on U.A.E.'s bid to host World Expo in Dubai in 2020.
Present at the meeting were H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Emirates Group Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy, Mohammed Al Shaibani, Director-General of Dubai Ruler's Court, and Khalifa Saeed Sulaiman, Dubai Director of Protocol and Hospitality