Officials have met separately with representatives of Dubai Aluminium Company (Dubal) and a delegation from Russia to discuss strengthening the UAE's aluminium sector and enhancing relations with Russia.
At the first meeting with Dubal, participants discussed how the aluminium sector has emerged as a major contributor to national GDP after oil.
The metal products industry in general has received Dh7.5 billion in investments – and had around 75 companies operating within the field – as of 2007.
Minister of Economy Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri said: "The aluminium industry is a vital component of our country's economic diversification initiatives and generates around 12 per cent of total global supply. Several projects are in fact under way to establish the UAE as an aluminium production hub."
Later, Al Mansouri received a Russian delegation led by Senator Oleg Shurdumov, First Deputy Head of the Federation Council Committee, to discuss strengthening bilateral relations between the UAE and Russia.
The group talked about intensifying bilateral commercial, industrial, and agricultural trade, ensuring food security, Russia's support for improving the role of the UAE in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and enhancing the functions of the UAE-Russian Economic Council.
Al Mansouri said: "The UAE has maintained healthy economic relations with Russia since 1971. The UAE in fact remains Russia's closest trade partner in the Gulf."
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