trade exchange in commodities and services, currently estimated at 7.5 billion British Pounds to over 12 billion British pounds by 2015. The two sides agreed to organize a business forum in the UAE in the first half of 2010 for the sake of establishing new joint business partnerships. They also agreed to study the possibility of launching a pan Emirati-British business council building on the successful model of the British business groups in the UAE. The two sides also agreed to formulate a programme for technical cooperation in areas like intellectual property rights, best legislative practices on consumer protection, trade marks, small and medium scale enterprises and R&D in science and technology. The second meeting of the committee will be held in the UAE next year. --SPA