Out-Law News 1 min. read

Investment Corp of Dubai forms ‘investment alliance’ with South Korea


The Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD) and the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Kexim) are to form “an alliance to explore international investment and export finance opportunities” across Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

Kexim and the ICD, the sovereign wealth fund of the Emirate of Dubai, will work together under the terms of a memorandum of understanding signed by both sides, the official Emirates News Agency (Wam) confirmed on 19 August.

According to Wam, cooperation between the two agencies “will initially focus on the healthcare, infrastructure and energy sectors”.

Kexim chairman and president Lee Duk-Hoon told Wam: “We believe that this partnership provides a fantastic platform to promote and develop new investment opportunities in potentially new markets for mutual benefit.”

ICD chief executive officer Mohammed Al Shaibani said the partnership would build on existing “strong commercial ties” with South Korea.

Sachin Kerur of Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind Out-Law.com, said: “The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and South Korea together are and will continue to be a powerful and effective force. The shared vision, strength and respect between the two is very tangible and observed in highly successful ventures between corporations of both countries.”

Ties between South Korea and the UAE have increased since 2009, when South Korea was selected to lead a consortium working with the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation to build the UAE’s first nuclear power plant at Barakah, in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi.

In 2012, South Korea’s ministry for land, transport and maritime affairs signed a memorandum of understanding with the Abu Dhabi Investment Company (Invest AD) “to intensify cooperation for joint investment in third countries”.

Pinsent Masons's Mark Raymont said: “In my work with UAE-Korean ventures, I have always found a healthy commercial regard and a real interest in together developing and exploiting opportunities in the infrastructure and energy sectors.”

We are processing your request. \n Thank you for your patience. An error occurred. This could be due to inactivity on the page - please try again.