Thani Al Zeyoudi Meets with Global Ministers and Officials at the Eighth Global Investment Forum
Abu Dhabi, His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, held a series of high-level meetings with ministers and government officials from various countries during the opening day of the eighth Global Investment Forum.
Al Zeyoudi emphasized that the United Arab Emirates' role in hosting important international events such as the Global Investment Forum stems from the country's influential position in the international community. This event has the potential to make a significant contribution by directing capital towards the most pressing sectors, supporting efforts to overcome global challenges such as energy security, water security, and bridging the growing digital divide. The United Arab Emirates recognizes the pivotal role of trade and investment in providing solutions to these issues.
He added, "The United Arab Emirates has long sought to mobilize resources to support development projects around the world, ranking 15th globally in terms of foreign direct investment outflows according to the United Nations World Investment Report 2023, following a $25 billion investment in 2022, representing a 10% increase from 2021... We look forward to the discussions and commitments that will take place during this week and to achieving further qualitative leaps toward a sustainable and just future."
These meetings included discussions with His Excellency President Jose Ramos Horta of East Timor and Ms. Rebecca Greenspan, the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
During these meetings, Al Zeyoudi once again emphasized the importance the UAE places on trade and investment as key drivers for global social and economic development. He stressed the importance of increasing investments in areas such as energy, digital infrastructure, telecommunications, and logistics services in countries in the Global South to promote economic growth and development.
He also met with Mustafa Varank, the President of the Turkish-Emirati Parliamentary Friendship Group, discussing the prospects of cooperation under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the UAE and Turkey, which came into effect in September last year.
Al Zeyoudi engaged in discussions with Manuel Tovar Rivera, the Minister of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica, and Marco Cadiz, the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Serbia, focusing on bilateral trade and investment relations with these friendly nations.
Subsequently, Al Zeyoudi held meetings with Malaison Komasith, the Minister of Industry and Commerce in Laos, and Khodratov Shavkatovitch, the Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade in Uzbekistan.
The Eighth Global Investment Forum, themed "Investing in Sustainable Development," brings together key stakeholders, from world leaders to international organizations and CEOs of leading companies. The event takes place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) and aims to address core issues such as food security, energy transition, healthcare systems, supply chain resilience, and enhancing production capacity worldwide.
