Korea and the UAE have agreed to upgrade the level of their economic cooperation, signing deals on areas considered "softer" compared to plant and railway construction.
President Park Geun-hye vowed to give full support to the collaborative efforts.
Arirang′s presidential office correspondent Choi You-sun files this report from Abu Dhabi.
Highlighting the great potential in Korea′s latest halal food development deal with the UAE, President Park Geun-hye told the two countries′ business leaders that it′s time for Seoul and Abu Dhabi to focus on the so-called "software" cooperation.
By that, she meant going beyond the hardware infrastructure ventures.
Referring to recent joint hospital management and construction projects between the two sides, the president expressed hope that the collaboration will expand into the pharmaceutical industry, and thereby spur corporate investments.
In terms of energy, President Park directed attention towards the nuclear-related service sector, especially since the Seoul- Abu Dhabi strategic partnership was formed after they agreed to cooperate in nuclear energy in 2009.
And finally, the Korean leader stressed that the two sides should broaden their perspective and based on their mutual trust, look towards entering a third market together.
She then promised to support commercialization of collaborative ideas, and to cut red tape to encourage investment.
In a display of her commitment to the bilateral partnership, President Park met with a group of youth ambassadors from the UAE, who had spent a month visiting Korea as part of Abu Dhabi′s Korea expert fostering program.
She also visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, named after the UAE′s founding father and most respected leader.

“On her final day in Abu Dhabi, President Park plans to meet Koreans residing here, to praise their achievements and to ask that they continue their roles bridging the two sides. She’ll then travel to Qatar, the final stop in her regional tour.
Choi You-sun, Arirang News, Abu Dhabi."

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