Ismail Obeid Al Ali, UAE Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to South Africa, yesterday met South African Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Sue van Der Merwe and discussed ways of strengthening relations and enhancing cooperation in the fields of mutual interest. They reviewed economic projects and some of the conventions, which are still in the negotiating framework in preparation for the final signing. Al Ali assured UAE"s keenness to develop and strengthen cooperation and explore promising areas in the future for investment, pointing out that the UAE forms an important and principal gate for South Africa to reach the Gulf Area. He also met with the Director of Gulf States, Ambassador Martin Slabber and discussed with him a number of issues in the framework of bilateral relations, according to a report of the UAE news agency "WAM".
