Abdullah bin Zayed receives UNIDO's Director-General

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, yesterday received LI Yong, Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).

During the meeting, they discussed co-operation between the UAE and UNIDO in various sectors, ways to enhance economic, trade and investment co-operation and bilateral relations as well as boosting vital economic sectors for the joint interests of the two sides.

Sheikh Abdullah praised the role played by UNIDO in enhancing and accelerating industrial development in developing countries with economies in transition as well as boosting the international industrial co-operation.

He also emphasised that the UAE, through it developmental process, could reach advanced stages in the balanced sectoral development standardisations supported by the escalating growth in various national economic fields as well as economic, social and cultural aspects.

He added that this brought the country to the forefront alongside advanced nations and on the road to progress and prosperity, while pointing out that the UAE always seeks to establish friendly relations and co-operation with countries across the world.

Sheikh Abdullah also highlighted the fact that the UAE enjoys a distinguished economic stature at the Arab and global levels. He reiterated that the country occupies a leading position on the international trade map, taking advantage of its strategic geographical location as a link among various continents of the world.

On his part, LI Young hailed the economic and industrial development witnessed by the UAE, and the strength of its national economy and agenda in the economic and industrial fields as well as successes attained by the country under its wise leadership.

He also hailed the UAE's experience in the human resources development field and the adoption of a number of pioneering initiatives and projects in green economy, sustainability, renewable energy fields as well as keeping pace with the international scientific developments and transformations.

He added that the UNIDO is looking forward to increasing co-operation with the UAE as well as finding new opportunities for more joint projects in various domains, noting that the two sides' keenness on developing ties for the benefit of both sides.

Badr Al Olama, Chief Executive Officer of Strata also attended the meeting.

FNC passes two draft laws on closing accounts of Federation, autonomous entities

The Federal National Council, FNC, on Tuesday passed a draft federal bill endorsing the closing account of the Federation for fiscal year ending 31st December 2012 and another draft federal bill endorsing the closing accounts of autonomous institutions for fiscal year ending 31st December 2013.

According to the federal bill on the Federation's closing account, the estimated general expenditure in the Federation's budget for fiscal year 2012 totalled Dh46.095.248.000 while estimated revenues totalled Dh45.085.000.000.

According to the federal bill on the closing accounts of the autonomous institutions for fiscal year ending 31st December 2013, actual general expenditure reached Dh44.728.719.180.57, while the approved estimated expenditure, after legal amendments in the same fiscal year, totalled Dh45.718.087.000.00.

The FNC approved the two bills during its 16th meeting of the fourth ordinary session of the 15th Legislative Chapter, chaired by Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr, Speaker of Federal National Council, FNC, and attended by Sultan bin Saeed Al Badi, Minister of Justice, and Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs.