UAE, U.S senior officials call Congress, Obama's administration to support bilateral relations

Abu Dhabi, Dec 15, 2008 (WAM) - UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi and U.S Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont, yesterday discussed the UAE-USA bilateral relations and ways to further promote them in economic and trade areas in particular.

The two sides underscored the exchange of information and updates on the economic developments in both countries as well as updating the U.S Congress on the process of development in the UAE and the growing economic global role it is playing.

The two sides called Congress and the incoming US Administration to support the distinguished relations between the UAE and the U.S.

Sheikha Lubna gave Baucus an overview of the UAE economy and the attractive environment available for foreign direct investments. She noted that the UAE has become the U.S' first trade partner in the region. The UAE, is now the region's biggest recipient of U.S. exports, she added at the meeting which was attended by the U.S Ambassador to the UAE Richard Olson and Director of Foreign Trade Department at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade Abdullah Al Saleh.

In 2007, non-oil trade between the UAE and the U.S. reached US$13 billion.