The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted recently a meeting between the National Committee for Transportation at the Council of Saudi Chambers and Dubai Land Transport business group. The meeting discussed the interests of both parties in the land transport sector and ways to develop channels of cooperation between Dubai and Saudi Arabia. The Saudi delegation, headed by Abdulrahman Al-Otaishan, chairman of the National Committee for Transportation, was received by Atiq Naseeb, executive director of the Membership & Documentation Services Department at the Dubai Chamber and the delegates of Dubai Land Transport Group, headed by Khaled Abdullah, chairman of the Group. The parties agreed on establishing means to encourage investments between Saudi Arabia and Dubai in the land transport sector and activate cooperation in light of the observations of the meeting parties. Dubai Land Transport group presented an array of problems that are facing the sector some of which include the absence of the concerned authority that protects the interests of the sector like all other transport sectors, and the escape of truck drivers which results in great losses to the concerned parties. The meeting parties discussed the issues of developing passengers transport sector and the initiatives that can be adopted to strengthen the cooperation as well as the importance of establishing a modern international bus station that provides all the essential facilities and services to the passengers in addition to building Bus Depot that provides its services for nominal fees. The meeting came at a time when Al Ghuwaifat border crossing between the Kingdom and UAE was witnessing queues of trucks, an issue which was resolved recently, and the meeting parties stressed the necessity to strengthen the cooperation between them and find solutions for any future problems that might occur. Atiq expressed the commitment of Dubai Chamber to enhance commercial cooperation between Dubai and KSA and praised the efforts of the present delegates in facilitating land trade issues. Atiq valued the contribution of the Council of Saudi Chambers in facilitating the meeting of its members with its counterparts in Dubai, pointing out that Dubai Chamber looks forward to strengthen the mutual relations with Council of Saudi Chambers. The executive director of the Membership & Documentation Services Department at the Dubai Chamber highlighted the role of Dubai Chamber in representing, supporting and protecting the interests of the business community in Dubai through creating a favorable business environment, supporting the development of business and promoting Dubai as an international business hub. Saudi Arabia was the largest export/re-export destination for Dubai's goods during the 4th quarter of 2008 with the total volume of exports reaching AED29.6 billion, an enormous increase of 140.7 percent. __
