Board of Director for Dubai Chamber of Commerce and International Advisory Panel for World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF), Essa Al-Ghurair speaking to Malaysian press during the informal dinner meeting within Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin here. — Bernama photo
DUBAI: The commercial and business relations between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Malaysia can be further enhanced by exploring opportunities in the area of real estate, Islamic finance, tourism, industry and agriculture, said a prominent businessman.
Essa Al Ghurair, vice-chairman of Al Ghurair Investment LLC, a diversified industrial group with operations spanning more than 20 countries, said the chambers of commerce in the respective countries could assume an important role in facilitating UAE and Malaysia businessmen to conduct business.
A member of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, the businessman said the chamber of commerce in Malaysia and UAE should engage in more active interaction to facilitate businessmen of both countries.
“We always look forward for more and more business relations between UAE and Malaysia and vice-versa,” he said when met by Malaysian journalists covering Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s working visit to Dubai.
Muhyiddin, who is on five-day working visit ending Saturday, attended a business dinner with prominent businessmen from Malaysia and the UAE on Thursday.
Essa Al Ghurair said increasing flight frequencies between Dubai and Kuala Lumpur would boost trade and also attract more tourists arrivals.
“People travel to and fro and exchange views and what needs to be done is to help businessmen in Malaysia to do business here and businessmen here do business there,” he said.
Last year bilateral trade between Malaysia and the UAE stood at US$8.81 billion, up 9.7 per cent, compared with US$8.03 billion recorded in 2012.
Currently, more than 80 Malaysian-based companies have established business in the UAE.
Among the companies include Eversendai Corporation Bhd which has carved out a name for itself in the UAE with iconic projects such as the Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab. — Bernama