The UAE and France are looking to develop economic partnership and enhance cooperation in the fields of the new economy

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Paris, June 13 / WAM / His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al -Marri, Minister of Economy, held a bilateral meeting with His Excellency Erik Lombard, Minister of Economy, Finance, Industrial and French Seamatic; His Excellency Clara Shabaz, the French minister in charge of artificial intelligence and digitization, to discuss the development of economic partnership between the UAE and the French Republic, expand the areas of economic and investment cooperation and open new channels for business community in the two friendly countries.

This came on the sidelines of the visit of the country delegation to France to participate in the “FIFA 2025” exhibition for the entrepreneurship and modern technology, held in the French capital, Paris, under the slogan “the new borders of innovation”, during the period from 11 to 14 June.

His Excellency Abdullah Bin Touq stressed that the Emirati -French relations provide a model for advanced strategic relations in all fields, thanks to the directives and vision of the wise leadership in the two friendly countries. He pointed out that the UAE is keen to continue to enhance economic cooperation with its partners in the French government in the new economy sectors as major sectors that support the shift towards the future economy, especially since the two countries have common denominators in the economic visions and strategies aimed at expanding and investing in these vital sectors.

His Excellency Ben Touq said: “The meeting represents an important step to enhance joint work and support the paths of economic and investment cooperation, especially since the UAE is a major economic partner for France in the region, due to its distinguished geographical location, and France represents a promising economic destination for the UAE in the European continent, where the UAE market currently hosts more than 15 thousand French companies that operate in various economic activities, in addition to the presence of approximately 18,500 trademarks French registered in the country at the end of last May. ”

His Excellency continued: “The tourism sector is one of the main pillars in economic relations between the two countries, as the number of French tourists to the UAE reached about 648,704 in the year 2024, recording a growth of 15% compared to 2023, and the state received 245,269 French tourists during the first quarter of the year 2025, and the number of flights between the two countries reached 49 flights per week via airlines in The two countries.

In detail, the meeting of His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq with His Excellency Eric Lombard, Minister of Economy, Finance, Industrial and Digital Excellence, witnessed a discussion of new mechanisms to support communication channels between the UAE and French business community, which contributes to opening promising horizons for partnership, especially in light of the presence of large and varied economic opportunities in the markets of the two countries, as well as providing more facilities and incentives to exporters in the two countries.

The two parties touched on the possibility of exchanging experiences regarding the development of flexible economic policies and their importance in enhancing the growth and sustainability of the economy of the two countries, and in this context, His Excellency Ben Touq reviewed the comprehensive development of the economic legislation system in the country and its role in the competitiveness of the business environment and the consolidation of its leadership regionally and globally, including issuing and developing new legislation for the cooperative sectors, commercial transactions, commercial registry and family companies, and allowing ownership 100%foreigner, facilitate the procedures for establishing business practicing, and enhancing openness to the world by building international partnerships with the targeted strategic markets.

His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq also discussed during his meeting with His Excellency Clarashabaz, the French minister in charge of artificial intelligence and digitization, the opportunities to enhance cooperation between the two countries in the fields of technology, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, cloud computing, cyber security, digital economy, financial technology and entrepreneurship in the technological sector.

His Excellency Ben Touq, the French Minister, briefed the investment possibilities provided by the state to companies wishing to work and expand these vital sectors in the state markets, in addition to the pivotal role of the “UAE 2031” vision targets, in consolidating the state’s position as a global center for the new economy by the next decade.