(c) information designed for SMEs that contains:
(i) a description of the provisions in this Agreement that the Party considers to be relevant to SMEs; and
(ii) any additional information that would be useful for SMEs interested in benefitting from the opportunities provided by this Agreement.
2. Each Party shall include in its website links to:
(a) the equivalent websites of the other Party; and
(b) the websites of its own government agencies and other appropriate entities that provide information the Party considers useful to any person interested in trading, investing, or doing business in that Party's territory.
3. Subject to each Party's laws and regulations, and to the extent practicable, the information described in paragraph 2(b) may include:
(a) customs regulations, procedures, or enquiry points;
(b) regulations or procedures concerning intellectual property right such as trade secrets and patent protection rights;
(c) technical regulations, standards, quality or conformity assessment procedures;
(d) sanitary or phytosanitary measures relating to importation or exportation;
(e) foreign investment regulations;
(f) business registration;
(g) trade promotion programs;
(h) competitiveness programs;
(i) SME investment and financing programs;
(i) taxation, accounting;
(k) government procurement opportunities; and
(l) other information which the Party considers to be useful for SMEs.
4. Each Party shall regularly review the information and links on the website referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2.
Article 15.4. Non-Application of Dispute Settlement
No Party shall have recourse to dispute settlement under Chapter 14 (Dispute Settlement) for any matter arising under this Chapter.
Chapter 16. ECONOMIC COOPERATION
Article 16.1. Objectives
1. The Parties shall promote cooperation under this Agreement for their mutual benefit in order to liberalise and facilitate trade and investment between them and foster economic growth.
2. Economic cooperation under this Chapter shall be built upon a common understanding between the Parties and shall support the implementation of this Agreement, with the objectives of maximising its benefits, supporting pathways to trade and investment facilitation, and further improving market access and openness, in order to contribute to the sustainable, inclusive economic growth and prosperity of the Parties.
Article 16.2. Scope
1. Economic cooperation shall support the effective and efficient implementation and utilisation of this Agreement through activities that relate to trade and investment.
2. Areas of economic cooperation under this Chapter may include:
(a) trade and investment promotion;
(b) electronic commerce;
(c) industrial and agricultural trade; and
(d) financial services.
3. The Parties may agree to modify or add activities and other areas of economic cooperation.
Article 16.3. Resources
1. Resources for economic cooperation under this Chapter shall be provided in a manner to be negotiated by the Parties and in accordance with the laws and regulations of the Parties.
2. The Parties, where it may be of mutual benefit, may consider cooperation with, and contributions from, international agencies and organisations to support the implementation of activities under this Chapter.
Article 16.4. Means of Cooperation
1. The Parties shall endeavour to encourage technical, technological, and scientific economic cooperation through the following:
(a) joint organisation of conferences, seminars, workshops, meetings, training sessions, and outreach and education programmes;
(b) exchange of delegations, professionals, technicians, and specialists from academia, institutions dedicated to research, the private sector, and governmental agencies, including study visits and internship programmes for professional training;
(c) dialogue and exchange of experiences between the Parties' private sectors and agencies involved in trade promotion;
(d) joint business initiatives between entrepreneurs of the Parties; and
(e) any other means of cooperation that may be agreed between the Parties.
2. The UAE may seek to establish cooperation through its Government Experience Programme, while Türkiye will use its available practices and programmes for the same purpose.
Article 16.5. Halal Cooperation
Within one year from the entry into force of this Agreement, both Parties shall enter into discussions with a view to negotiating and finalizing a memorandum of understanding for the purpose of reinforcing cooperation between their respective institutions in halal-quality infrastructure and on mutual recognition of Halal certification, including halal standards, certification, and accreditation of halal products and services and other technical processes, as well as any other form of cooperation as may be agreed between the Parties.
Article 16.6. Non- Application of Chapter 14 (Dispute Settlement)
Chapter 14 (Dispute Settlement) shall not apply to any matter or dispute arising from this chapter.
Chapter 17. ADMINISTRATION OF THE AGREEMENT
Article 17.1. Joint Committee
1. The Parties Hereby Establish a Joint Committee.
2. The Joint Committee:
(a) shall be composed of representatives of the Türkiye and the UAE; and
(b) in addition to the standing committees or subcommittees expressly provided for under this Agreement, may establish or restructure standing or ad hoc subcommittees or working groups as it considers necessary to assist it in accomplishing its tasks and assign any of its functions thereto; and
(c) shall take decisions and make recommendations by the consensus of the Parties.
3. The Joint Committee shall meet within one year from the entry into force of this Agreement. Thereafter, it shall meet every two years, unless the Parties agree otherwise, to consider any matter relating to this Agreement. The regular sessions of the Joint Committee shall be held alternately in the territories of the Parties.
4. The Joint Committee shall also hold special sessions without undue delay from the date of a request thereof from either Party.
5. The functions of the Joint Committee shall be as follows:
(a) to monitor and assess the results and overall operation of this Agreement in the light of the experience gained during its application and its objectives;
(b) to keep under review the possibility of further removal of barriers to trade and other restrictive measures concerning trade between the Parties;
(c) to explore ways to enhance bilateral investment relations;
(d) to consider any amendments to this Agreement that may be proposed by either Party, including the modification of concessions made under this Agreement;
(e) to endeavour to amicably resolve disputes between the Parties arising from the interpretation or application of this Agreement;
(f) to supervise and coordinate the work of all subcommittees and working groups established under this Agreement;
(g) to consider any other matter that may affect the operation of this Agreement;
(h) if requested by either Party, to propose mutually agreed interpretation to be given to the provisions of this Agreement; and
(i) to carry out any other functions envisaged by this Agreement or that may be agreed by the Parties.
6. The Joint Committee shall be co-chaired by representatives of each Party at a ministerial level or their respective designees and adopt at its first meeting its own rules of procedure.
7. Meetings of the Joint Committee and of any standing or ad hoc subcommittees or working groups may be conducted in person or by any other means as determined by the Parties.
8. The following subcommittees are established:
(a) the Subcommittee for Trade, to handle any matter that could arise from Chapters 2 (Trade in Goods), 3 (Trade Remedies), 4 (Technical Barriers to Trade), 8 (Trade in Services), 9 (Digital Trade), 10 (Investment Facilitation), 12 (Competition and Related Matters), 13 (Intellectual Property Rights), 15 (Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises) and 16 (Economic Cooperation).
(b) the Subcommittee for SPS Measures, to handle any matter that could arise from Chapter 5 (Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures);
(c) the Subcommittee for Rules of Origin and Custom Procedures, to handle any matter that could arise from Chapters 6 (Customs Procedures & Trade Facilitation) and 7 (Rules of Origin and Origin Procedures).
Article 17.2. Communications
1. Each Party shall designate a contact point to receive and facilitate official communications among the Parties on any matter relating to this Agreement.
2. All official communications in relation to this Agreement shall be in the English language.
Chapter 18. FINAL PROVISIONS
Article 18.1. Annexes, Side Letters, and Footnotes
The Annexes, Side Letters, and footnotes to this Agreement constitute an integral part of this Agreement.
Article 18.2. Amendments
1. Either Party may submit proposals for amendments to this Agreement to the Joint Committee for its consideration and approval.
2. Amendments to this Agreement shall, after approval by the Joint Committee, be submitted to the Parties for ratification, acceptance, or approval in accordance with each Party's internal legal procedures.
3. Amendments to this Agreement shall enter into force in the same manner as provided for in Article 18.6 (Entry into Force), unless otherwise agreed by the Parties.
Article 18.3. Review of the Agreement
1. With the objective of maintaining and developing close economic and trade relations between them, upon the request of either Party, the Parties shall commence a review of this Agreement with a view to replacing, modernising, or expanding it.
2. Each Party shall give due consideration to any proposal by the other Party of topics to be included in the scope of the review.
3. Following the review specified in paragraph 1, the Parties shall endeavour to hold further negotiations on replacing or modernising any existing areas of this Agreement, and expanding the coverage of this Agreement to additional areas agreed upon.
Article 18.4. Accession
Any country or group of countries may accede to this Agreement, subject to such terms and conditions as may be agreed between the country or group of countries and the Parties to this Agreement, and following approval in accordance with the applicable internal legal procedures of each Party and acceding country or group of countries.
Article 18.5. Duration and Termination
1. This Agreement shall be valid for an indefinite period.
2. Either Party may terminate this Agreement by written notification to the other Party, and such termination shall take effect six months after the date of the notification.
Article 18.6. Entry Into Force
1. The Parties shall ratify this Agreement in accordance with their internal legal procedures.
2. When a Party has ratified this Agreement in accordance with its internal legal procedures, that Party shall notify the other Party of such ratification, approval, or acceptance in writing, through diplomatic channels, within a period of 60 days from such ratification.
3. Unless the Parties agree otherwise, where both Parties have notified each other of such ratification, approval, or acceptance, this Agreement shall enter into force on the first day of the second month following the date of receipt of the last written notification.
Article 18.7. Authentic Texts
The Turkish, Arabic and English texts of this Agreement are equally authentic. In case of inconsistency, the English text shall prevail.
Conclusion
IN WITNESS WHEREOEF, the undersigned plenipotentiaries, being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Agreement.
DONE at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on the 3rd day of March, 2023.
FOR THE REPUBLIC OF TÜRKIYE
Mehmet Muş
Minister of Trade
FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri
Minister of Economy
Attachments
ANNEX 8-3. MOVEMENT OF NATURAL PERSONS
1. Scope and General Provisions
1. This Annex applies to measures affecting the entry and temporary stay of natural persons of a Party for the purposes of trade in services.
2. In respect of the supply of services, natural persons specified in a Party’s Schedule in Annex 8-1 shall be granted entry and temporary stay under the terms of those commitments.
3. The Parties shall ensure that all measures affecting the entry and temporary stay of natural persons for the purposes of trade in services are administered in a reasonable, objective, and impartial manner.
4. The sole fact that a Party grants entry and temporary stay to a natural person of the other Party shall not be construed to exempt that person from meeting any applicable licencing or other requirements, including qualification requirements and any mandatory codes of conduct, to practice a profession.
2. Provision of Information
1. For the purposes of this Annex, each Party shall ensure that its competent authorities make publicly available the information necessary to apply for authorisations for the entry into and temporary stay in its territory. Such information shall be made electronically available and kept updated.
2. Information referred to in paragraph 1 shall include, among others:
(a) categories of visas and work permits, or any similar type of authorisation regarding entry and temporary stay;
(b) documentation and evidence required and conditions to be met;
(c) method of filing and options on where to file, such as consular offices or online;
(d) processing times;
(e) application fees;
(f) period of validity of visas and work permits;
(g) conditions for extensions or renewals;
(h) available review and/or appeal procedures;
(i) reference to relevant laws of general application; and
(j) the requirements referred to in Article 3 (9).
3. Each Party shall provide the other Party with details of relevant publications or websites where the information referred to in paragraph 2 is made available.
3. Entry and Temporary Stay Related Requirements and Procedures
1. Documents required for the processing of an application for the entry and temporary stay of natural persons supplying services shall be relevant and commensurate in relation to the purpose for which they are collected.
2. Fees for processing applications for entry and temporary stay for the service suppliers shall be reasonable and determined with regard to the administrative costs involved.
3. Applications that are considered complete in accordance with domestic laws and regulations shall be processed expeditiously. The competent authorities of each Party shall notify the applicant of the outcome of the application process without undue delay (1) after a decision has been taken. The notification shall include, if applicable, the period of stay and any other terms and conditions.
4. Upon the applicant’s request, the competent authorities of the Party concerned shall, without undue delay, provide information concerning the status of the applicant’s application. This information shall normally be provided free of charge.,
5. In case of an incomplete application and/or if a Party requires additional information from an applicant in order to process the application for temporary stay, the authority shall notify the applicant about the missing and/or additional information without undue delay and provide the applicant with the opportunity to supply that additional and/or missing information or to correct any deficiencies within a reasonable period of time or submit a new application.
6. If an application for temporary stay is refused, the Party concerned shall inform the applicant, and the applicant shall be given an opportunity to submit a new application.
7. If an application is approved, the notification shall include, if applicable, the period of stay and any other terms and conditions.
8. Applicants shall be given an opportunity to apply for a renewal or extension of the authorisation for temporary stay. Each Party shall ensure that the procedures for application for a renewal or extension of the authorisation for temporary stay are preestablished and clearly specified.
9. Where a Party decides to grant entry and temporary stay to a service supplier and multiple entry is applicable, the granting Party shall grant multiple entry once the respective requirements are fulfilled in accordance with that Party’s laws and regulations.
10. Parties shall endeavour to accept and process applications in electronic format.
11. Parties shall establish or maintain appropriate mechanisms to respond to enquiries from natural persons of the other Party regarding measures covered by this Annex.
4. Relationship with other Agreements
In case of an inconsistency between the provisions of this Annex and a provision of an international agreement to which the Parties are party, the provision most favourable to the service supplier shall apply.
ANNEX 14-1. RULES OF PROCEDURE
Timetable
1. After consulting the Parties, the panel shall, whenever possible within 7 days of the appointment of the final panellist, fix the timetable for the panel process. The indicative timetable attached to this Annex should be used as a guide.
2. The panel proceeding shall, as a general rule, not exceed 120 days from the date of composition of the panel until the date of the final report, unless the Parties otherwise agree.
3. Should the panel consider there is a need to modify the timetable, it shall inform the Parties in writing of the proposed modification and the reason for it.
Written Submissions and Other Documents