A business tour of the Silesian Voivodeship to the United Arab Emirates took place between November 21-25. The University of Economics in Katowice was one of the guests invited by the event's hosts. Our University's Rectoral Authorities were represented by Marcin Kraśniewski, Ph.D., LL.M. from the Department of Law and Insurance.
The international economic and study tour to Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates was organized by the Upper Silesian Fund S.A. and the Marshal's Office of the Silesian Voivodeship in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development. The tour was part of the framework of two ongoing pro-export projects, i.e. "Economic promotion of the region and activities related to the creation of friendly conditions for investment and export" also known as Global Silesia, and InterSilesia "Modeling of export activities of companies from the SME sector operating in the Silesian Voivodeship". The organized event also provided an opportunity to establish academic contacts with Emirati universities. The representatives of the Silesian universities were invited at the Emirati side's request, which is interested in scientific and educational cooperation with Polish universities.
The event was attended by representatives of the region's authorities, including the Marshal of the Silesian Voivodeship – Jakub Chełstowski, as well as representatives of the Upper Silesian Fund S.A. authorities – Jacek Miketa and Łukasz Oprawski. Delegation members invited by the organizers included Marcin Kraśniewski, Ph.D., representing our University, as well as Tomasz Cudny (President of the Management Board of Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa S.A.), Janusz Michałek, Ph.D., (President of the Board of Katowice Special Economic Zone), Krzysztof Drynda (President of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency). The Abu Dhabi – Poland Busienss Forum meetings were also attended by the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Abu Dhabi – Jakub Sławek. From the Emirati side, participants included Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi – Minister of State for Foreign Trade of the United Arab Emirates, as well as Rashed Abdulkareem Al Balooshi (Acting Undersecretary, Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development [ADDED]) and Sameh Al Qubasi (Director General - Economic Affairs at Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development).
During the substantive visits, the delegation visited places such as the KIZAD Industrial Zone in Abu Dhabi and the Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai (the largest special economic zone in the world). The economic tour included opening the Regional Office of the Silesian Voivodeship in Abu Dhabi and the Abu Dhabi – Poland Business Forum. A formal dinner for the Polish delegation organized by the Emirati government was held on November 23. All events included in the official program of the economic mission were attended by Marcin Kraśniewski, Ph.D., on behalf of the Rectoral Authorities of our University. Our representative was also substantively involved in the Public Sector Congress (Abu Dhabi, November 22 this year).
During the economic tour, Marcin Kraśniewski, Ph.D., held meetings with representatives of Emirati universities and representatives of the Emirati government responsible for science and higher education in the United Arab Emirates. The talks were organized by the Upper Silesia Fund S.A. and were held with the participation of the Polish Ambassador to the UAE. Dr. Kraśniewski spoke with representatives of the University of Sharjah, Khalifa University and Skyline University Colleges. The UAE is interested in cooperation with Silesia not only in business but also in the academic aspect. Under the authority of the Vice-Rector for Education and International Relations, Prof. Sławomir Smyczek, Ph.D., Marcin Kraśniewski, Ph.D., discussed the possible exchange of students and academic staff between our University and universities in the United Arab Emirates. Talks held during the economic tour also addressed the prospect of potential opportunities for scientific research in Polish-Emirati cooperation. Following an invitation from the Emirati side, on the last day of the tour, our representative in Abu Dhabi visited the Khalifa Innovation Center, which is a research unit of one of the largest universities in the United Arab Emirates – Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi.
The participation of our University in the international economic tour to the United Arab Emirates was made possible thanks to Jacek Miketa (Vice-President of the Upper Silesian Fund S.A.). The Upper Silesia Fund and the authorities of the Silesian Voivodeship were responsible for the organizational and substantive implementation of the week-long economic tour to the Arab state.
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