Da Nang People’s Committee Vice Chairman Tran Chi Cuong asked the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to share experience and support Da Nang to organise and operate the international financial centre when meeting with UAE Ambassador to Viet Nam Bader Almatrooshi on Thursday.

Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Tran Chi Cuong (right) presenting a souvenir to UAE Ambassador to Viet Nam Bader Almatrooshi. Photo: T.PHUONG

Vice Chairman Cuong expressed his pleasure at the visit to Da Nang made by Ambassador Bader Almatrooshi on the occasion of the 30^th founding anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and the UAE (August 1, 1993 - August 1, 2023).

The city leader briefed his guest on the city’s socio-economic development over recent years and the first half of 2023, plus the city delegation’s visit to the UAE in March 2023.

He also introduced a number of key economic sectors that Da Nang is appealing for investment, including travel services, high-tech industry, seaports and airport.

Mr. Cuong revealed that Da Nang aimed to become one of the major socio-economic centres of the country and Southeast Asia. Therefore, the city is looking forward to sharing experience in organising and operating the Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC) and the Abu Dhabi International Finance Center (ADGM) in the UAE so that Da Nang will soon successfully build its international financial centre.

He took the opportunity to ask Ambassador Bader Almatrooshi to act as a bridge to connect businesses and investors from the UAE, as well as promote the opening of direct flights between Da Nang and the UAE in a bid to create favourable conditions for tourists, businesses and investors to travel and explore investment opportunities in the city. This will contribute to promoting economic development and deepening the relationship between the UAE and Da Nang in particular, and Viet Nam in general.

Leaders of the two sides posing for a souvenir photo

For his part, Ambassador Bader Almatrooshi thanked the city leader for the respectful welcome and expressed his impression on the city’s rapid growth and its safe, green, clean and beautiful tourist environment.

According to Ambassador Bader Almatrooshi, the UAE and Da Nang have great potential for economic development, especially in the fields of services, tourism, and energy.

He added that Da Nang is an extremely attractive tourist destination, but people and businesses in the UAE do not know much about Da Nang.

Therefore, the visitor suggested Da Nang organise seminars and talk shows on investment promotion in the UAE; as well as facilitate visa issuance for UAE citizens to promote tourism and travel between people and businesses of the two localities.

Mr. Bader Almatrooshi informed that the UAE is currently Viet Nam's largest trading partner in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Viet Nam is always in the group of countries valued by the UAE in terms of bilateral relations.

The Ambassador affirmed that Da Nang, with its position as an economic, political and cultural center, is a strategic port city of Central Viet Nam, and an ideal investment destination for UAE businesses.

Reporting by THANH PHUONG - Translating by M.DUNG