Paris: A delegation from the General Secretariat of the National Committee for Combating Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation, led by Hamid Al Zaabi, Secretary-General, conducted high-level meetings in the French Republic.
According to Emirates News Agency, the meetings aimed to bolster the strategic partnership with France, aligning with the Secretariat's ongoing initiatives to enhance international relations and promote the exchange of expertise and knowledge. These discussions involved senior French officials, including G©rald Darmanin, French Minister of Justice, and Claire Cherementenski, Deputy Director at the French Treasury.
The dialogues focused on enhancing international cooperation, exchanging expertise, and supporting joint efforts in combating money laundering, countering the financing of terrorism, and asset recovery. This initiative aims to reinforce financial integrity and strengthen strategic partnerships between the UAE and France.
The French officials lauded the existing cooperation with the UAE, highlighting the nation's leading role in regulating virtual assets, advanced efforts in asset recovery, and judicial cooperation. Both sides agreed to launch a 'Joint Strategic Dialogue on Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing,' initiated by the UAE.
The dialogue will center on five main pillars: cooperation between law enforcement authorities, judicial cooperation, a track related to the Financial Intelligence Unit, countering the financing of terrorism, and capacity building and exchange of expertise.
Hamid Al Zaabi also extended an invitation to the French side to participate in the Fifteenth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Abu Dhabi, emphasizing its significance as a platform for exchanging expertise and enhancing cooperation on financial crimes.
Further discussions with Charlotte Hemmerdinger, Director of the French Asset Recovery Agency (AGRASC), explored organizing a specialized regional workshop on asset recovery, considering the UAE's presidency of MENAFATF this year. This initiative aims to enhance regional coordination and strengthen countries' capabilities in asset recovery.
The meetings also reviewed prospects for exchanging expertise and building capacities, including hosting Emirati specialists for training with French authorities and welcoming French experts to the UAE. This collaboration supports efforts to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, and asset recovery at regional and international levels.
The UAE and France share a robust partnership in combating money laundering and terrorist financing, backed by continuous collaboration in exchanging expertise and technologies and practical coordination between the relevant authorities.
