Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (WAM)
Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, engaged in high-level talks and panel discussions at the recently concluded AIM Congress, exploring strategic investment opportunities and fostering partnerships with global stakeholders.
The AIM Congress 2024, under the theme "Adapting to a Shifting Investment Landscape: Harnessing New Potential for Global Economic Development" included 450 dialogue sessions and featured 900 speakers from around the world, serving as a platform for global policymakers, business leaders, and investors to discuss key issues shaping the global economic landscape to create a more sustainable global economy.
The congress was opened with a keynote address by H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, during which he underscored the UAE's strategic utilisation of wealth to develop robust infrastructure and institutions, positioning the country as a global hub for trade and investment.
Al Zeyoudi stressed the importance of strategic partnerships, future-focused policies and bold economic initiatives to deliver a sustainable and prosperous future, highlighting how that approach has established the UAE as "a beacon of stability, a hub for global investment and a catalyst for progress."
He emphasised how the country's attractive investment climate, supported by a favourable regulatory framework and a thriving business ecosystem, has made the UAE the third-largest destination for FDI in 2023, attracting $23 billion across 1,277 projects spanning a wide range of industries.
Al Zeyoudi stated, "The AIM Congress 2024 has provided an invaluable platform for meaningful dialogue and collaboration. Our discussions have reinforced the UAE's commitment to fostering trade and investment partnerships that drive economic growth, promote global partnerships, and contribute to sustainable development worldwide. As a global leader in innovation and investment, the UAE is dedicated to leveraging its strategic position to drive positive change and create lasting impact on a global scale."
Throughout the event, the minister participated in a series of speaking engagements and panel discussions, reiterating the UAE's commitment to key initiatives to advance global development and entrepreneurship. He highlighted the nation's collaboration with the World Health Organisation to enhance access to critical medicines and announced the UAE's hosting of the 3rd World Local Production Forum in 2025.
Additionally, he showcased the UAE's entrepreneurial ecosystem at events such as the AIM Unicorn Conclave and AIM Startup Awards, participated in the MENA-China Investment Forum, and discussed the increasingly crucial role of Family Offices in the Middle East, using their substantial wealth to create a more sustainable and inclusive future.
During the Ministerial Roundtable on Investment, Al Zeyoudi joined counterparts for discussions on how to drive sustainable, equitable economic development and highlighted the UAE's value proposition in that respect, including its NextGen FDI agenda and Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements programme that are aimed at doubling the country's GDP to AED3 trillion by the end of the decade.
He also engaged in numerous productive bilateral discussions with senior government officials from Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas and Oceania, exploring new avenues for collaboration and investment.
