WAM ABU DHABI, 23rd April 2012 (WAM): Senator Philip Ozouf, Treasury Minister of the British Channel Island of Jersey, arrived in the UAE capital earlier today at the start of a three-day visit to the United Arab Emirates.

During his visit, Ozouf is expected to meet with government officials and representatives of the local finance industry in Abu Dhabi and Dubai to discuss the further promotion of Jersey's business links with the UAE and the rest of the Gulf region.

Jersey, a self-governing dependency of the British Crown, is a major international finance centre. Around 13 per cent of its total financial deposits come from the Gulf region. Three of the UAE's leading banks have overseas operations in Jersey.

Ozouf's visit is part of a series of initiatives being undertaken by Jersey's Government during 2012 to forge diplomatic and commercial relationships.

In a statement on arrival, he said: "Since I attended the launch of Jersey Finance's regional office based in Abu Dhabi last year, relations between Jersey and the UAE have continued to develop, significantly in terms of the finance industry, but also in other fields. The Government of Jersey is strongly committed to the partnership between our two countries and I look forward during my visit to discussing ways in which it can be progressed." The Jersey Minister is also due to attend the annual British Embassy reception to mark the official birthday of Queen Elizabeth, during which he will present to the British Ambassador, Dominic Jermey, a holographic portrait of the Queen, specially commissioned to commemorate her 60th anniversary as monarch.

WAM/PH-TF