The United Arab Emirates and Sierra Leone have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the field of manpower aimed at improving the management of the contractual work cycle for workers coming from Sierra Leone to work in the UAE.

The MoU was signed by Dr Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, and Rashid Sesay, Ambassador of Sierra Leone to the UAE, at the Expo 2020 Dubai.

The two sides also signed a bilateral cooperation protocol in the field of domestic workers as an annexe to the MoU to facilitate the procedures for accepting and recruiting domestic workers from Sierra Leone to the UAE and employing them in accordance with the provisions of the Domestic Workers Law, and the laws and regulations, which are enforced in both countries.

The two sides stressed that the MoU comes within the framework of the two friendly countries’ keenness to strengthen cooperation relations and develop an institutional partnership to improve the management of the contractual work cycle of Sierra Leonean workers in the UAE.

The two sides also agreed to cooperate in areas related to human resource development and the implementation of legal awareness programmes for workers before leaving and after arriving in the UAE.

Dr Abdulrahman Al Awar, accompanied by Ambassador Rashid Sesay, visited the Sierra Leone Pavilion located in the Opportunity District at Expo 2020 Dubai. He listened to an explanation about the pavilion themed “A New Beginning”. The pavilion showcases the country’s rich natural resources in West Africa and its cultural heritage and introduces its customs and traditions and various investment opportunities.

Earlier, the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) held an event at Egypt Pavilion at Expo Dubai 2020, under the title of ‘Suez Canal Authority Affiliated Companies (Springboard to the Future)’.

During the event, Amr Awad, SCA Senior Naval Architect, pointed out that the Suez Canal is a major contributor to the Egyptian and global economy and currently owns a big number of companies operating in services, manufacture and integrated industrial solutions in the sectors of shipbuilding, fish farms, dairy, dried fruits, and juice industries.

Worth mentioning that Egypt is taking fast yet steady steps towards the future and the development of different fields to ensure an investment stimulating environment.

Suez Canal Authority (SCA) and its Affiliated Companies are at the heart of this development through deploying their industrial and technical capabilities and managerial experience which are combined to establish new investment opportunities through providing industrial integration solutions.

In this regard, Mohamed Salah, SCA head of Financial Section said that the Suez Canal is one of the main sources of national income in Egypt. “SCA currently has nine subsidiaries; the first one, established in 1862, was specialised in the shipbuilding industry and the other subsidiaries mow operate in ship building, civil activities, and infrastructure, Salah noted.

Colombia’s fashion industry: Colombia’s fashion industry will showcase its unique design with a fashion week celebration in Expo 2020 Dubai from November 11 to 18, 2021.The fashion week will pay tribute to Colombian artisans and designers who handcrafts signature pieces utilizing the exotic Colombian fabrics.

As part of the fashion week, Colombian artist and entrepreneur Natalia Botero T will handcraft a statement art piece, which will be available for sale at the end of the event. On the first day of the fashion week November 11, Colombia will host a panel discussion featuring fashion designers, Laura Aparicio and Glory Ang Atelier at 4 pm and an opening party at 6 pm on the opening day.

The fashion week will feature the work of Colombian designers such as Leal Dacarrett, Silvia Tcherassi, Hernán Zajar, Pepa Pombo, Beatriz Camacho, Amelia Toro, and Johana Ortiz, new talent, and winner of the Fashion Trust Arabia contest. Each piece of work in the display will carry a QR code, with more pertinent information about the work and designer. The Colombian companies will showcase products including accessories, swimsuits, jewellery, and fashion jewellery, and shapewear.

Flavia Santoro, President of ProColombia said: “Fashion enables us to establish a seamless connection with people across the world, as threads hold together pieces of fabric in an incredible garment piece. Through fashion week, we aim to showcase the distinctiveness of Colombia’s fashion industry to the world. Colombia’s products created by highly skilled artisans and designers are known for their craftsmanship, sustainability, innovation and durability.”

The fashion week featuring contemporary and ethnical designs is organized by Colombia to leverage the opportunities that emerge through the world expo and attract fashion enthusiasts in the region to further strengthen the growth of the fashion sector in Colombia. The weeklong celebration will showcase seven of the most renowned designers from Colombia and apparels made by 30 companies, that are representing Colombia in the macro business matchmaking forum in Dubai on November 18.  

The designers from Colombia have earlier represented the country’s fashion industry in major fashion events held in UAE, such as Fashion Trust Arab, Arab Fashion Week and Galeries Lafayette and already have a strong relationship with the fashion sector in UAE. The apparels made in Colombia are an integration of aesthetics and functionality, many of them are quick-drying, breathable and possesses a high degree of protection from UV.

Colombia’s commitment to its fashion industry doesn’t limit to fashion week. Besides showcasing statement fashion pieces from Colombia in the pavilion, the staff of Colombia will also be sporting garments by designer Esteban Cortázar in partnership with Sutex and ProColombia and footwear produced by Cueros Vélez for the entire duration of the world expo.

Colombia is one of the largest exporters of flatweave fabrics in the world and has 14,000 companies in the fashion sector of which, most are MSMEs.  In 2019, clothing and footwear sales in the country amounted to USD 8 billion and more than 1,200 Colombian companies exported their garments to over 100 countries.

According to ProColombia’s analysis of Dane’s figures, Colombia’s exports to MEASA grew 165%, going from USD 2 million in 2020 to $5.3 million between January and September 2021. and textile and apparel exports to the UAE grew by 16% in 2021

Colombia’s major exports to the MEASA region include leather, shapewear, footwear, women’s swimwear, formal wear, and the main consumers of Colombia’s fashion sector in the MEASA Region are Nigeria, Togo, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Kuwait, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Angola, And Qatar.