UAE stresses Bexhill project's value

THE value to the United Arab Emirates of their Bexhill-based technical training project has been impressed on local dignitaries during a fact-finding visit to the UAE.

A statement this week on the visit said that in turn the delegates had gained an insight into the level of investment the UAE has made in Rother.

The one-week visit was headed by the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, Mrs. Phyllida Stewart-Roberts.

In a joint statement at the Observer's request, Rother said: "The visit was the result of an invitation by Colonel Hareb Al Dhaheri, the director of the Bexhill-based UAE Training Project.

"The purpose of the visit was to gain a greater insight and understanding of the importance of the training project to the UAE Government, to form links with a number of the municipalities in the Emirates and to see at first hand the evolving nature of the Emirates and the importance of the UK to them.

"The cost of the visit was paid for by the UAE Government."

Other members of the delegation were East Sussex County Council chairman Cllr John Barnes; Rother chairman Cllr Wendy Miers; Town Mayor Cllr Eric Armstrong; Rother chief executive Derek Stevens; Hilary Humphreys, assistant to the Lord Lieutenant and Stephen Finney, aid to Colonel Hareb.

"During the week, a number of meetings were held notably with Major General Al Rumaithi of the UAE Armed Forces who has, amongst other things, responsibility for the training project in Bexhill-on-Sea. "The delegation also called on the Under Secretaries at the Municipalities of both Abu Dhabi and Al Ain and their senior teams, and on Edward Oakden, the British Ambassador to the Emirates and his Defence Attach.

"In addition to this, formal visits were made to the Abu Dhabi Cultural Centre and the Al Ain Municipality Museum.

"Extensive discussions were held with the director of the Dubai Media City, which models, albeit on a much larger scale, the creative media centres which the Hastings and Bexhill Taskforce have thus far developed.

"What emerged very clearly was the value to the Emirates, not just of the training project in Bexhill-on-Sea, but of the relationships which have been forged with the British Government. The delegates gained a much greater understanding of the very substantial investment which has resulted in both the local and national economy of the UK as a result of these close links."