Ukraine and the UAE plan to sign a large-scale economic partnership.

On December 5, negotiations between Ukraine and the UAE regarding the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPA) began, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry reported. The joint statement regarding mutual intent to strengthen bilateral relations was signed today by the Minister of Economy of Ukraine, Yulia Svyridenko, and the Minister of Foreign Trade of the UAE, Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi. Ukraine seeks to become the first European state with which the UAE conclude a CEPA. These negotiations emphasize the importance of Ukraine to the Emirates as a long-term trade and investment partner, noted the Ministry of Economy. In addition to trade in agro-industrial products, the largest share of economic cooperation between Ukraine and the UAE is metallurgy. At the same time, cooperation in infrastructure projects, energy, and the pharmaceutical industry, as well as in the fields of innovation, research, development, and technology, are extremely promising.