Talks on free trade agreement between EAEU, UAE to take place in Moscow next week

MINSK. June 15 (Interfax) - Talks on a free trade agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be held in Moscow next week, Andrei Slepnev, trade minister of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), said on Thursday.

"Active work is being done on the future agreement: the sides agreed right away that they will work fast. The second round of talks will be held in Moscow next week," Slepnev was quoted as saying by the EEC press service at the Russia-UAE business dialogue at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2023.

"I would like to outline a number of issues that we will promote as new initiatives in addition to standard things such as eliminating duties and simplifying procedures," Slepnev said.

"In the first place, we need to develop the infrastructure of industry cooperation, create a whole number of mechanisms that will promote cooperation coordination. What areas? Of course, everything related to digitalization, issues relating to food security and transport corridors," he said.