González Laya and Abdullah bin Zayed want to boost economic cooperation

Arancha González Laya is touring the Gulf with the aim of strengthening economic ties with the Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar in a context of "economic transformation" in which a more strategic partnership could be vital. The Foreign Minister first visited the United Arab Emirates, before moving on to Saudi Arabia and then Qatar.

On Sunday, the Spanish foreign minister met with the Emirati interior minister, Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, with whom she signed a cooperation agreement on security and crime, particularly economic crime. The agreement includes the exchange of information and experience with the aim of improving the practices to be applied. It also seeks to make progress in the use of new technologies in the field of security and police work.

González Laya also met with his Emirati counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with whom he discussed the regional situation and the challenges facing the Middle East, following the recent return to relations between several Gulf countries and Qatar. They also discussed the issue of Libya, on which they both expressed optimism following last Friday's resolution. 

The foreign ministers discussed other issues of mutual interest, such as the fields of health, science, technology and artificial intelligence. It should be recalled that Spain has shown great interest in the development of new technologies in the field of renewable energies, a sector in which the Emirates is standing out in the Gulf region. It is not in vain that the Emirates hosts the headquarters of IRENA, with whose director, Francesco La Camera, also held a meeting.

During her stay in the Emirates, the minister has had an intense agenda in which, although the economic background has predominated, there has also been room to strengthen cultural ties with the country. During her first day in the Emirates, Laya took the opportunity to take a close look at the Spanish School that was inaugurated in Abu Dhabi last year, as well as announcing the establishment of the Cervantes Institute in the country in the near future. 

In the cultural and educational sphere, the Minister of Foreign Affairs met with the Emirati Ministers of Culture and Youth, and of International Cooperation. The latter, Reem Al Hashimy, is also the director of Expo 2020 in Dubai, which will begin on 1 October and whose Spanish pavilion was part of the visit. Laya pointed out that Spain "is going to participate with great enthusiasm, to demonstrate its commitment to the Emirates".

To conclude the visit to the country, and with a view to strengthening our presence in the aforementioned educational, economic, business and scientific fields, González Laya has held meetings with the associations of different groups in these sectors that are located in the Emirates. She met with the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the Emirates, where they discussed the business projects that are being developed and praised the diversity of the business presence.

In addition to the business sector, Laya also met with members of two other associations. These were the Association of Spanish Teachers in the UAE (APPEAU) and the Association of Spanish Scientists and Researchers in the UAE (ACEIEAU). The Spanish Minister highlighted their work in supporting Spaniards who emigrate to the UAE and establish themselves in these sectors.

The next stop on the route will be Riyadh. The Spanish minister is expected to leave the Emirates on Monday afternoon to continue her visit to the Gulf countries.