Dear Reader,
After six exciting, challenging, thriving and motivating years in the UAE at the head of the Luxembourg Trade and Investment office, it is time to say goodbye. I will soon leave this amazing country to join the Ministry of the Economy back in Luxembourg where I have been appointed Deputy Director General, in charge of Foreign Trade and Investments. I am leaving on one side with a heavy heart as I much enjoyed my time in the UAE and all the experiences, the people, the companies and everything that has been offered to me and my family. On the other side, I leave with the great satisfaction having been part of something bigger than me, i.e. contribute to the development of the relations between our two countries. The Expo2020 was for sure a highlight, together with the many visits and official delegations in the last six years. I will always remember how surprised I was discovering in November 2016 the immense sand plot where the Expo2020 was supposed to take place. The work seemed daunting, not achievable in only a couple of years. And yet we all had wet eyes on 23 January 2022 when the Luxembourg flag was raised at the Expo2020 for the Luxembourg Day under the largest 360° Video Dome in the world, Al Wasl.
I leave with the conviction that together with my dedicated and talented team we have done our utmost to further develop and enhance trade, economic and finance relations between Luxembourg and the UAE. The number of new Luxembourg companies that have set up a presence in the UAE during, or even despite, the pandemic shows that the UAE offer many business opportunities for Luxembourg companies.
On a more personal note, I have been permanently amazed by the hospitality, the openness, and the sheer will of the people of this country to make the UAE the best place in the world to live, to do business and to embrace the many possibilities of the technologies of the future.
Last but not least, I’ll take this opportunity to thank all the people I had the chance to work with, starting with my colleagues Mrs. Sabrina Amiar, who is month after month preparing this newsletter, and Mrs. Nadia Benchouk. But also the whole team at the Embassy of Luxembourg and of course all the many people that I worked with during the last six years.
My successor, Mr. Jean-Marie Frentz, a seasoned diplomat lastly posted at our Embassy in London, will undoubtedly take up the torch to contribute to the development of our trade relations from September on.
On 30th June & July 1st, 2022, the latest edition of the global tech conference ICT Spring took place in Luxembourg. This yearly event gathered participants from all over the world to share knowledge and experience in the field of innovation and new technologies, featuring high-level conferences, exhibitions and demonstrations of the latest tech trends.
ICT Spring is a great opportunity of growth for foreign SMEs and Startups who want to discover Luxembourg digital transformation. Indeed, what better place for developing and growing your business across Europe than the most international country in the EU? With a consistently open economy, a central European location and the most international population in the EU, Luxembourg is a widely renowned business destination that provides excellent access to the European and worldwide markets.
In addition to startups, the United Arab Emirates were represented with high-level speakers, notably Mrs. Zoë Harries, Director of the Free zone of Masdar City. Mr. Anis Tabka, SVP Procurement & Contracts, Expo2020 Dubai, also joined the event to share his experience following his contribution to Dubai Expo2020.
Joining this event was also an opportunity to meet with all the startups invited by the LTIO Network coming from Tokyo, Seoul, Tel Aviv or Taipei.
Indeed, with its openness to innovation, public-private research partnerships and closeness to technological hotspots in Europe, Luxembourg is an excellent testbed for the development and commercialization of new products and services. Adding to this its manageable size and diverse population, it is also a good place for carrying out product localization for different EU markets.
The LTIO Abu Dhabi is here to help you if you would like to know more about Luxembourg or looking to launch and expand your business activities in Europe.
Loïc Bertoli