From TCM to Autonomous Aerial Vehicle, Ruler of RAK, UAE explores industrial cooperation in Guangdong

On November 20, His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, the United Arab Emirates Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), along with a delegation from the region, continued the visit in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, with a major focus to foster potential industrial partnerships with local enterprises.

The delegation first made its way to EHang, a leading player in urban air mobility (UAM) technology, looking into the latest cutting-edge unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technologies and commercial solutions. One of the flagship models, EH216-S, highlighted at EHang, has obtained the world's top certificate, which enables safe, autonomous, and eco-friendly air mobility accessible to its users.

The trip was also highlighted by the visit to Guangzhou Baiyunshan Chenliji Pharmaceutical Company Limited, a time-honored brand in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Sameer Al Ansari, CEO of the Ras Al Khaimah Digital Assets Oasis, praised the diversified industrial layouts he was introduced to during the visit. "You see the UAE, and particularly when I focus on RAK, we have a very diversified economy. It goes from tourism to manufacturing to industry, to things like pharmaceuticals," he added. "The industrial diversity in China is just so huge that there is always an opportunity for cooperation between us."

"We have Traditional Chinese Medicine that goes back (long ago). This company was founded in 1600and is still going very strong and has huge demand not just in China, but all over the world." He noted that patent Chinese medicine has gained traction over the years globally and expressed his respect for the brand, which, to this date, still continues focusing on innovating its formulas and securing consistency in quality.

In addition, the delegation toured Yongqingfang and enjoyed a Cantonese opera performance at the Cantonese Opera Art Museum in a way that seeks tourism and cultural resources of the city.

John Cunliffe, Strategic Business Development Director of the Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ), shared the true excitement from one of the biggest deals secured this year with Shandong Province, China.

"They've just taken over a million square meters of land in one of our industrial parks, across a range of industries from food and beverage to consumer products, so we're very excited about that," he specified. He said the Chinese side in this deal is looking to bring over 60 companies, which is expected to create nearly 4,000 jobs locally, which is for sure a win-win cooperation.

As he detailed, RAK is home to over 200 companies from China at the moment, and 40% of the economy of RAK is  from manufacturing. "China is a huge potential market for the companies that are in RAK to expand and seek new business opportunities," he noted.

After visiting a range of companies on this trip, he and his team are hopeful to sign a number of exciting deals in the near future. "One of the really nice things about RAK, and particularly the RAK Economic Zone, is that it's a mixed economic zone. We're seeing more and more companies from China coming into the UAE," he said.

On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the UAE, this trip comes as a driver to further strengthen collaborative relations between RAK and the GBA in a comprehensive way.