Citi and DED sign comprehensive MoU for joint promotion of Dubai as trade and investment destination

Citi Transactions Services CTS, a Division of Citi, today signed a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding MoU with the Department of Economic Development DED – Government of Dubai - designed to boost Dubai’s attractiveness as an investment destination and a trade hub, as well as promote a more conducive environment for the establishment of small and middle enterprises SMEs in the country.

Signed by HE Sami Al Qamzi, Director General of DED, and Mr. Atiq Ur Rehman, Citi’s Chief Executive Officer for the Middle East Division, the MoU calls for cooperation on a series of presentations and roadshows outside of the UAE to help attract fresh Foreign Direct Investment FDI into the city.

It also points to the exchange of expertise, best practices and vital information to help facilitate export efforts, SME initiatives, business registrations through Citi’s banking platform, including services availed by CTS and Global Subsidiaries Group GSG.

Citi’s involvement is driven by ‘Citi for Cities’ C4C, a global initiative which aims at transforming and modernizing city infrastructure, supporting economic development and job creation, and enhancing cities’ liveability.

Commenting on the MoU with Citi, Mr. Al Qamzi said: ‘We are delighted that Citi, a global name in banking and finance, will be partnering with DED on multiple initiatives. Both DED and Citi have the common goal of improving Dubai’s viability as a global economic hub, and today’s MoU lays the foundation for a solid and long term partnership.’

‘Dubai continues to make strides as a city of choice for investors, multinational corporations and long-term residents. We are keen on enhancing the city’s competitiveness through joint efforts that utilize Citi’s 200-year record of banking expertise, solid platform and extensive global reach,’ said Mr. Rehman.

According to ‘Hot Spots’, a March 2012 Citi-commissioned Economist Intelligence Unit EIU report which  analyzed the competitiveness of 120 cities worldwide based on a city’s ability to attract capital, business, talent and tourists,  Dubai ranked 10^th under the measure of Financial Maturity, and 40^th in the overall rating.

Citi has been in the Arab World for nearly 50 years and views the region as critical to its global franchise. It currently offers full scale corporate banking services across ten Arab countries including Egypt, UAE, Lebanon, Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait as well as Pakistan. Its consumer banking services cover UAE, Egypt, Bahrain and Pakistan, while it maintains close relationships with high net worth clients in the region through the Citi Private Bank.