ABU DHABI // Italy hopes the UAE will be a key strategic partner in the Middle East when the European nation takes over the Group of Eight (G8) presidency in January.
Franco Frattini, the Italian foreign minister, visited the capital on Sunday and had meetings with his UAE counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
Mr Frattini expressed his wish for the UAE to play a more prominent role in G8 activities, especially in regard to regional issues, such as Iran's nuclear ambitions, Paolo Dionisi, Italy's ambassador to the UAE, said yesterday.
Italy wants the country to be involved in regular ministerial and monthly working group meetings held by the G8 as part of its outreach programme and is considering inviting the Emirates to the annual summit in La Maddalena, Italy, in 2009.
Ministerial meetings are held throughout the year on topics that include economic and social development, energy, environment, trade, justice and health.
During his visit, Mr Frattini described relations between the countries as a "true partnership". Sheikh Abdullah and Sheikh Mohammed plan to visit Italy before the end of the year and Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian prime minister, is expected on a return visit early next year.
"The UAE will be invited to all the G8 outreach exercises next year, even possibly the summit," Mr Dionisi said.
"We believe it's strategic, it's important and it's obvious to invite the UAE because they are contributing in this region, not only financially but in terms of leadership and political thought. We need the UAE, we need the contribution of this leadership."
As well as the leaders from the five largest emerging economies, which make up the expanded group known as the G8+5, representatives from developing countries including Algeria, South Korea and Ghana attended the 2008 summit in Japan, to participate in some but not all of the activities.
The UAE has never been involved in the proceedings. Addressing an international forum earlier this week Sheikh Abdullah warned that the development of nuclear weapons in the Middle East would "open the door for continuous conflicts" and threaten international and regional peace and security.
On this issue and the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan, where Italy and the UAE both have troops, the two coutries have "exactly the same views," Mr Dionisi said. He stressed the importance of collaborating with regional countries to solve these problems.
"Nobody could expect to solve these problems or to tackle them in any way if they don't involve and they don't consult constantly - I would say daily - with the actors in the region," Mr Dionisi said. "Of course the UAE, for us and for everyone, is one of the main actors of the region."
A number of G8 nations have expressed their wish to expand the group and its outreach activities. G8 countries account for about 65 per cent of the world's GDP and 14 per cent of its population.
The G8 leaders recently agreed to hold a summit to discuss global financial reform and to restart world trade talks abandoned earlier this year.
In addition to consolidating political ties, Italy wants to work with the UAE in finance and on economic matters.
During his visit, Mr Frattini met executives from the Abu Dhabi Investment Fund (ADIA), and offered to help facilitate investments in Europe and Italy.
"We would like ADIA to be an active fund in Europe because we trust ADIA. We trust the government," Mr Dionisi said.
The two nations are also considering a joint financial aid initiative in Africa.
They have agreed to share research and work together to fight thalassemia, a genetic blood disorder that afflicts one in 10 Emiratis and is common in areas of Italy.
Commercially the two countries are also growing closer. On Monday, Finmeccanica, the Italian defence and aerospace company, and Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Development Company signed an agreement to develop common initiatives.
Ties between Italy and the Emirates have strengthened over the past two years. Italian diplomatic authorities in the UAE now issue almost double the number of visas and more Emiratis are choosing to study in Italian universities.
"We look forward to having an even closer strategic relationship in the future," Mr Dionisi said.
lmorris@thenational.ae
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Pad Man
Dir: R Balki
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte
Three-and-a-half stars
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Kill%20
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The%20Boy%20and%20the%20Heron
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3EHayao%20Miyazaki%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%C2%A0Soma%20Santoki%2C%20Masaki%20Suda%2C%20Ko%20Shibasaki%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The years Ramadan fell in May
RESULT
Copa del Rey, semi-final second leg
Real Madrid 0
Barcelona 3 (Suarez (50', 73' pen), Varane (69' OG)
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
Cricket World Cup League 2 Fixtures
Saturday March 5, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy (all matches start at 9.30am)
Sunday March 6, Oman v Namibia, ICC Academy
Tuesday March 8, UAE v Namibia, ICC Academy
Wednesday March 9, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy
Friday March 11, Oman v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Saturday March 12, UAE v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri, Muhammad Waseem, CP Rizwan, Vriitya Aravind, Asif Khan, Basil Hameed, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Karthik Meiyappan, Akif Raja, Rahul Bhatia
Match info
Premier League
Manchester United 2 (Martial 30', Lingard 69')
Arsenal 2 (Mustafi 26', Rojo 68' OG)
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Company Profile
Company name: Yeepeey
Started: Soft launch in November, 2020
Founders: Sagar Chandiramani, Jatin Sharma and Monish Chandiramani
Based: Dubai
Industry: E-grocery
Initial investment: $150,000
Future plan: Raise $1.5m and enter Saudi Arabia next year
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WHAT%20IS%20THE%20LICENSING%20PROCESS%20FOR%20VARA%3F
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