Rotterdam and Dubai sign Memorandum of Understanding

The Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Dutch Chamber of Commerce and Rotterdam Partners signed a 3 year Collaboration Agreement at Rotterdam City Hall on Wednesday 8 march 2016, in the presence of Rotterdam Mayor Aboutaleb. With this Memorandum of Understanding Dubai and Rotterdam agree to increase collaboration and economic promotion relating to a number of themes and sectors, with a special focus on innovation. A delegation of the Dubai Chamber, together with a number of companies from Dubai, is in Rotterdam for a 3 day visit from 8-10 March. The goal of this visit and of the collaboration is the exploration and promotion of trade and investment opportunities and the exchange of knowledge relating to various economic sectors, such as logistics, financial services, health, infrastructure and energy. The delegation also brings with it a number of projects relating to clean tech, sustainable energy, Dubai Expro 2020 and port development for which Rotterdam businesses can qualify. The delegation will visit the Port of Rotterdam, CIC and Venture Café, STC-Group, YES!Delft and RDM Rotterdam. A special Dubai Business Forum takes place on Wednesday 9 March, with approximately 200 representatives of Dutch businesses participating in the event. The visit will end with a formal diner with mayor Aboutaleb in the Grandstand Rotterdam on Thursday 10 March. Dubai is an important investor for the Rotterdam region. The visit by the Dubai delegation follows an earlier visit to Dubai by major Aboutaleb (March 2015) and is made possible by cooperation with Dutch economic posts in UAE and Dubai and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is expected that the visit and the MoU will lead to a Dutch trade mission to Dubai in the autumn of 2016.