The year 2018, the Year of Zayed, is viewed as a year of achievements, initiatives, events and programmes that celebrate the personality of the great leader, Sheikh Zayed. The year highlights his life and career and promotes his noble human values. Ambassador Obaid Saeed Obaid Al Dhaheri talks to Minh Thu about the country’s achievements.

First of all, would you please provide an update on the development of the UAE after 47 years of the union?

This year was a special one for the UAE in marking the 100th birthday of its founder, the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who was committed to building a sustainable future for generations to come and laid the foundations for the vibrant, diverse and cosmopolitan society that the UAE remains today. We also celebrated our 47th National Day on December 2.

Nowadays, the UAE is widely known as a diverse and knowledge-based economy, economic growth remains stable despite the faltering global economy, and it is one of the most developed countries with a high value of GDP per capita.

During the process of its development, the UAE has also gained high rankings in various sectors such as among top countries with high quality of infrastructure; ranked top in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and 11th globally in the World Bank’s 2019 Ease of Doing Business report issued in October, even higher than some countries in Europe and Asia where UAE passport is recognised as the first most powerful passport in the world, according to ranking by Passport Index report 2018.

These achievements have made UAE an ideal destination for investment, commerce, tourism and employment promotion. UAE has become an important centre of Islamic Economy in the world. It was selected to host the World Islamic Economic Forum, the World Energy Summit 2019 and the Expo 2020 Dubai, where Việt Nam will participate in with a pavilion with a good location in the Opportunity District at the exhibition.

What is your assessment of the level of relations between UAE and Việt Nam after 25 years?

As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of our diplomatic and cooperation relationship, I would like to express my appreciation for the strong bilateral ties and the distinguished record of active cooperation. Our two countries have continued an effective cooperation in politics, trade, investment, aviation, culture, education, labour and tourism, which is supported with high-ranking visits, investment and trade promotion delegations and friendly exchanges.

Over more than two decades, the UAE is already considered one of the leading foreign investors in Việt Nam, it is Việt Nam’s largest export market in MENA, and we are confident that this trading and investment relationship will continue to grow stronger. As a hub of the Middle East and a gateway to both Europe and Africa, the UAE is well placed to facilitate Vietnamese access and expansion into the global market. Concurrently, UAE also recognises Việt Nam as a gateway to South East Asia.

So far, a number of flagship Emirates companies have strengthened their investment profile in Việt Nam. Could you please give us some brief information about their activities in Việt Nam?

More UAE businesses have been investing in infrastructure, real estate, sea ports, oil and gas, tourism and services in Việt Nam, driven by some of the country’s flagship companies, including DP World, Nakheel, Mubadala, Borouge, Emirates Airlines, Etihad Airways, Dubai Export, and Dubai FDI.

For example, more direct flights between Dubai and Hà Nội and HCM City by Emirates Airlines continue to bring our two countries closer together. As such, it is clear that opportunities to further enhance cooperation between Việt Nam and UAE are plentiful. We are confident that our burgeoning ties will be moving toward a higher level.

Finally, and with a view to help Việt Nam’s companies and investors better access the UAE market, what are UAE’s main conditions and facilities available for them? 

UAE as an open economic country, has provided numerous opportunities to attract foreign investment in all economic sectors, by its safe and stable economic policy, flexible investment environment, modern infrastructure, modern businesses legislation, smooth flow of customs clearance, leading to low taxes and easy flow of imported goods and commodities, and extremely favourable business environment including fiscal advantages in Free Zones and so many others facilities which are convenient for investors. — VNS