Excursion integral to pursuance of broader partnership between UAE and Guinea
United Arab Emirates:His Excellency Kerfalla Yansane (Minister of Mines and Geology of the Republic of Guinea), accompanied by His Excellency Hassan Souare (Guinean Ambassador to the UAE), visited Emirates Aluminium Company Limited PJSC (“EMAL”, an operating subsidiary of Emirates Global Aluminium PJSC) on 13 December 2014. The delegation was received by Abdulla Kalban (MD & CEO: EGA) and William Morrell (CEO: GAC) and taken on a VIP tour of the EMAL smelter complex.
The minister also had an opportunity to meet 17 trainees from Guinea Alumina Corporation (“GAC”, a wholly EGA-owned strategic bauxite mine and alumina refinery development project) who are currently in the UAE as participants in a Skills Development Programme at EGA. The trainees, who will ultimately apply the skills acquired in the UAE to the benefit of their country, had the opportunity to have dinner with the Minister and provide feedback on the programme.
The visit to EMAL formed part of a three-day visit to Abu Dhabi during which His Excellency Kerfalla Yansane pursued ties in broader partnership between Guinea and the UAE. Various sectors are under discussion with certain projects already in execution phase, such as the construction of a multi-function port in Kamsar, infrastructure, energy, healthcare and agriculture sectors.
Prior to taking on his current portfolio in 2013, His Excellency Kerfalla Yansane was the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Guinea. In this role, he was instrumental in effecting tremendous changes, including the requirements for reaching the completion point under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (“HIPC”) initiative which considerably reduced Guinea’s external public debt and enabled the country to fully implement policies for sustainable growth and poverty reduction.