The discussion was led by Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Chris Cox, Global Head of Trade and Working Capital Solutions, Citi, Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO, Africa Finance Corporation, and James Zhan, Senior Director, Investment & Enterprise, UNCTAD.
Al Zeyoudi discussed a question by the session moderator Maria Ramos about the impressive 78 percent year-on-year growth in trade figures for the country.
He also pointed out that the global reshuffling of economic gravity is providing an opportunity for the UAE to position itself as a key player in the global value chain. Furthermore, the rise of protectionism around the world, accelerated by the pandemic, is expected to cost around USD 3 trillion by 2025 to the global economy. To avoid the negative impact of these trends, the UAE is redefining supply chains and forging new partnerships.
He added that in 2021, the UAE achieved a remarkable 17 percent growth in trade figures, reaching a total of AED 2.3 trillion. The country also established three new trade agreements with partners, in addition to existing agreements within the Arab world.
Furthermore, Dr. Al Zeyoudi emphasised the UAE's commitment to sustainability, stating that 25 percent of all power in the country comes from clean energy sources, and 75 percent is considered one of the cleanest conventional sources of energy.
Dr. Al Zeyoudi expressed his trust and confidence in the UAE's ability to continue attracting investments and achieving strong trade growth in the coming year.
Investopia conference 2023 focused on the theme “Envisioning Opportunities in Times of Change” and three sub-themes: Envisioning Opportunities in Today’s Economy, The Future of the Wealth of Nations, and Growth Opportunities in Times of Decarbonisation.
The conference this year included 35 sessions and roundtables, and brought together more than 2000 participants like investors, government officials, thought leaders and entrepreneurs, from more than 40 countries.
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