Page 605 - MOE ENGLISH PR REPORT - APRIL 2025 (Part 2)

4/7/25, 5:16 PM UAE's CEPA with Costa Rica, Mauritius come into force - Dubai 92 - The UAE's Feel Great radio station
Wednesday.

Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al-Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, noted that it "reflects a significant step forward
in our nation’s foreign trade programme and its aim to establish stronger, more integrated trading relationships with

the most dynamic markets around the world".

Al Zeyoudi highlighted the CEPA's contribution to record non-oil trade in 2024, which reached an all-time high of
$817 billion, marking a 14.6 per cent increase over 2023.

The CEPA programme currently has 27 concluded deals, expanding access for UAE businesses to over a quarter of
the world’s population.

The deals

The UAE-Costa Rica CEPA, which was signed April 2024, builds on non-oil trade of more than $82.6 million in 2024,
following substantial growth of 27.5 per cent compared 2023.

Under the CEPA, 99.8 per cent of UAE exports to Costa Rica will benefit from zero or reduced customs duties. The
partnership will also help to facilitate strategic capital exchange, adding to the UAE’s approximate $673 million
already invested in Central America.

Opening access to one of Africa’s most promising economies, the UAE-Mauritius CEPA is projected to boost the
value of non-oil bilateral trade from its current $209.8 million to $500 million within five years, including a fourfold
increase in UAE exports to Mauritius.

Over 97 per cent of UAE exports to Mauritius will benefit from immediate tariff elimination or gradual tariff reduction

over a maximum of 5 years under the CEPA.

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