THE government says it has moved “one step closer” to attracting much needed new capital and investment to the Bahamas with last week’s trade mission to Dubai.

Headed by Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell, the delegation included Financial Services and Trade Minister Ryan Pinder, the Minister for the Environment and Housing Kenred Dorsett, Grand Bahama Minister Dr Michael Darville, State Minister for Investment in the Office of the Prime Minister Khaalis Rolle and Senator Jerome Gomez.

Officials from those ministries, as well as the ministries of Transport and Tourism, the Grand Bahama Port Authority and the Bahamas Maritime 
Authority also travelled with Mr Mitchell

The trade mission was a follow-up to a diplomatic trip made by Mr Mitchell late last year to initiate formal diplomatic ties in that region of the world that is renowned for its disposable wealth, keen interest in cultural tourism development and its world class telecommunications infrastructure, in addition to its emphasis on planning.

Mr Mitchell revealed that the Bahamas government has made the decision to join the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) which is headquartered in Dubai.

The Minister for the Environment took the opportunity to further the formal steps to complete the membership application for IRENA.

While in Dubai, the group is scheduled to meet with government officials and business leaders in the areas of tourism, ports development, financial services, the environment, telecommunications and technology.

This trade mission, according to Mr Mitchell, is being paid for by the Dubai Committee for the World Expo 2020.