Large Trade Delegation from Abu Dhabi visits Ireland

April 2014

The largest overseas trade delegation ever organised by the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry visited Ireland from 6th to 9th April 2014. The leader of the group of 40 companies, H.E. Khalfan Saeed Jumaa Al Kaabi, Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce, said that the visit was arranged to explore possibilities for new business with Ireland and to honour a commitment made to the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, in January 2014 when he led a large Irish trade mission to Abu Dhabi.

During their three working days in Ireland the group met the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, the Minister for Education & Skills, Ruari Quinn, the Minister for Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation, Richard Bruton, and the Minister for Agriculture, Marine and Food, Simon Coveney. They also received briefings from Enterprise Ireland, the IDA, the Irish Food Board and Tourism Ireland. Their programme also included a busy schedule of business to business meetings with potential exporters to the region, arranged by Enterprise Ireland.

The Arab Irish Chamber of Commerce and the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates co-hosted a lunch for the delegation at the UAE embassy which was also attended by directors and clients of the Chamber, the ambassadors of Morocco and Palestine, the Irish ambassador to the UAE, Mr. Patrick Hennessy and the President of the Irish Business Council in Abu Dhabi, Mrs. Noeleen Saeed.

The members of the delegation were impressed by what they learned during their visit and also with the quality and professionalism of the companies which they met. Discussions about potential deals have already started in several cases as a direct result of these initial meetings.

Details about the members of the delegation and their areas of business are provided in the list which can be accessed below.

Each of these listed companies will welcome contact from any Irish business that can offer a product or service which may be of interest to their specific areas of business in Abu Dhabi and the UAE generally.

 

Left to right: H.E. Khalfan Saeed Jumaa Al Kaabi, 1st Vice Chairman, Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry; H.E. Khalid Nasser Rashed Lootah, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates, and H.E. Anas Khales, Ambassador of The Kingdom of Morocco.