Page 261 - MOE ENGLISH PR REPORT - MAY 2025 (Part 1)_Neat

5/30/25, 4:39 PM HE Al Zeyoudi welcomes EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič to the UAE for CEPA Talks - Middle East Business News and Inf…
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The UAE-EU CEPA is poised to be a significant milestone in strengthening economic ties and

unlocking new avenues for trade and cooperation. The agreement will pave the way for the
removal of trade barriers, enhance market access for goods and services, and stimulate

investment in key sectors. By consolidating access to the EU market, the second largest
economic bloc in the world, the CEPA will reinforce the UAE’s status as a global trade and
logistics hub.

The EU is already one of the UAE’s key trading partners, accounting for 8.3% of non-oil trade.
In 2024, non-oil trade between the two reached US$67.6 billion, representing a growth of
3.6% over 2023.

HE Al Zeyoudi emphasized the importance of the CEPA with the EU, stating, “Our negotiations
toward a UAE-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement is of great importance to

both the UAE and the EU and represents an extraordinary opportunity for us both to enhance
trade and investment ties that will foster greater collaboration and create mutual benefits and

prosperity. By working together, we will strengthen our supply chains, drive innovation, and
create jobs that will benefit our communities and economies for many years to come.”

HE Maroš Šefčovič commented: “Europe continues to be a reliable trading partner, which

respects the deals it makes. And it is natural to seek to grow our relations with long-standing
and trusted partners like the United Arab Emirates. A bilateral FTA would unlock tremendous
business opportunities for European and Emirati businesses alike. Our aim is therefore to reach

an ambitious deal that is commercially meaningful on both sides – one that brings tangible,
lasting benefits, along with predictability, so essential to any successful business. This would

add strength to our regional cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.”

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