April 27, 2011 -- President James Michel yesterday met with the Minister of Health of the United Arab Emirates Dr. Hanif Hassan Ali Al Qassim, and members of his delegation at State House.

President Michel reiterated the gratitude of the people of Seychelles for the UAE gift of the Sheikh Khalifa Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Diagnostic Centre, which was opened on Monday at Seychelles Hospital.
 
"Seychelles and the United Arab Emirates have excellent relations and we will continue to consolidate our relations and work to improve and expand our cooperation in other areas," said President Michel.

President Michel thanked Minister Dr. Hanif Hassan Ali Al Qassim for the specialized care and air ambulance assistance the UAE provided in June last year for the two school children who were badly injured in a bus accident on Praslin. He said the two children had been given excellent treatment, and have resumed their school life well.

Dr. Hanif Hassan Ali Al Qassim commended Seychelles for the great advancement it has made in the development of its tourism industry, and noted that more tourists from the UAE are visiting Seychelles and that there is even more potential in the future.

Following their meeting, the President and the UAE Health Centre witnessed a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Seychelles and the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) for projects in Seychelles worth 37 million USD, including social housing and wind power projects. Vice-President Danny Faure, as Minister for Finance, signed on behalf of the Government of Seychelles, and the acting Director General Mohammed Al Suwaidi signed on behalf of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.