SVG to establish permanent diplomatic mission in the UAE

St Vincent and the Grenadines will soon establish a permanent diplomatic mission in the United Arab Emirates.

Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves made the announcement this week while speaking at the country’s National Day ceremony at World Expo Dubai 2020, where a delegation from SVG has been showcasing various aspects of the archipelago state’s culture and heritage.

The prime minister commented on SVG’s presence at the Expo, noting that it was due to a number of circumstances, one of which is to “consolidate and build further the excellent bilateral relations which exist between St Vincent and the Grenadines and the United Arab Emirates”.

Gonsalves announced that a permanent mission will be established “very shortly” but until then, “we have appointed His Excellency, Sheikh Dr Hamed Bin Ahmed Al Hamed as our Goodwill Ambassador extraordinary, to promote the interests of our country and to represent us in the UAE. We thank him for his acceptance of this important assignment”.

Sheikh Dr Hamed Bin Ahmed Al Hamed has extensive experience as an investment professional and he is currently the chairman of Al Qudra Holdings, a private joint stock company.

The prime minister met with the newly appointed Goodwill Ambassador in Dubai on Wednesday, following his announcement at Tuesday’s ceremony. The meeting preceded a luncheon held at Sheikh Dr Hamed Bin Ahmed Al Hamed’s residence, where he hosted the entire Vincentian delegation.

Gonsalves, during his speech on Tuesday, said that the two countries have built a quality partnership “beyond the usual diplomatic relations” in the past decade.

He highlighted several milestones that have been attained in these years, including the removal of visa restrictions for reciprocal travel to the respective countries, and meaningful engagement in collaborative diplomacy and international relations.

“We have benefited from the UAE in respect of renewable energy and from Dubai itself in matters of targeted care in local communities, and investors from the UAE are currently engaged with us about investments in our economy in areas such as tourism, air and sea transportation, financial services, seaport development and urban development,” the prime minister said.

He added that “at the United Nations, our two countries have been in close co-operation on global issues. For the immediate past two years, 2020 to 2021, St Vincent and the Grenadines sat on the United Nations Security Council. We are the smallest country to have ever done so”.

“Last year, diplomatic personnel from the UAE worked in tandem with us, preparatory to UAE’s current non-permanent membership of the Security Council. It is now our turn to assist and we are doing so. Both our countries are friends of all and we strive for a better world,” Gonsalves said.

Gonsalves also reiterated the country’s “solidarity with the government and people of the United Arab Emirates. More specifically, we are indebted to the brilliant leadership of the president of the UAE, His Excellency, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan and that of vice president of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, His excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum”.