Dubai FDI, the foreign investment promotion arm of the Department of Economic Development (DED) hosted a seminar on business start-up processes and the general investment environment in Dubai.

The event, held in association with Links Group, a leading company formation specialist, brought together investors, consultants and policy-makers who shared perceptions on business environment, policies and procedures in the emirate.

The participants were able to learn about the role of Dubai FDI in reaching out to the global investor community and its joint efforts with the Links Group to facilitate inflow of foreign direct investment in Dubai.

In an innovative public-private partnership initiative last year, Dubai FDI and the Links Group joined hands to fast-track business start-ups in the emirate.

Under this, businesses moving to Dubai can avail of the local knowledge and expertise of the Links Group to establish their presence in Dubai and aim for further growth.

The Links Group was the first private company to enter into such a partnership with Dubai FDI.

Commenting on the partnership, Khalid Al Boom, executive director of Dubai FDI, said "Expanding partnerships with investment promotion bodies across public and private sectors have helped us to offer strategic leads and advice to investors."

The seminar presented the feature of the Dubai FDI-Links Group partnership, with reference to the general investment landscape in Dubai and the different agencies as well as policies that come into play.

Officials from the Business Registration and Licensing (BRL) section of DED and the Ministry of Labour addressed the addressed the audience explaining their respective roles in facilitating business start-up and employment.

Mohammed Al Shael, chief executive of BRL said, "As a key function governing economic activity in Dubai, BRL maintains a strong interface with the investor community."

"We are keen to remain in conversation with our target communities, listen to them and provide them a competitive environment, which enables them to devote their attention to growing their business," he added.

Stuart Curtis, managing director of Links Group, expressed delight at the tremendous response to the seminar which aimed at giving businesses and investors direct access to all the information they need to consider when setting up a business in Dubai.

The seminar provided not only the chance to hear the most up to date and accurate information from the government but was also a great networking opportunity for companies, he added.-TradeArabia News Service