Al Zeyoudi held several high-level meetings with senior officials and ministerial leaders on the sidelines of the World Government Summit
Dubai: During the World Governments Summit, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi has highlighted the country’s commitment to trade and innovation as important engines of long-term, sustainable growth in a series of high-level meetings with ministers, business leaders, and senior officials.
The main topics of discussion were how to strengthen cooperation, speed up the movement of products and services, and focus investments on high-priority areas including advanced technology, energy, logistics, and food security.
During his meetings with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and Philippine First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, Al Zeyoudi reiterated the growing significance of the ASEAN region to the United Arab Emirates and the desire to strengthen ties with a region that has developed manufacturing and food production sectors.
The discussions with Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister, Manoa Seru Nakausabaria Kamikamica, focused on logistics, the fishing sector, and the significance of advancing climate-mitigation legislation.
Talks with Gabriela Garcia, Guatemala’s Minister of Economy, and Felix Ulloa, El Salvador’s Vice President, focused on strengthening ties to Latin America, while Governor Gretchen Whitmer discussed trade and investment with Michigan, the United States’ most important industrial state.
He also met with Guinea’s Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Ismael M’Fala Nabe, and Estonia’s Minister of Economy and Industry, Erkki Keldo.
A number of the UAE’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements were also reviewed at the World Government Summit.
Thani had the opportunity to meet Luis Carlos Reyes Hernandez, Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism of Colombia, a CEPA partner since April 2024, and Bui Thanh Son, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, with whom the UAE inked a CEPA in October 2024.
According to Al Zeyoudi, the meetings help to solidify the UAE’s standing as a significant global economic development partner. “The UAE has always held the view that international investment and trade are essential to industrial productivity, innovation, and sustained economic growth.
Countries all across the globe are eager to not only grow their trade networks but also make commerce easier, quicker, and more effective, as my discussions with ministers this week have shown. Many nations are showing interest in strengthening their cooperation with us as our CEPA initiative creates development corridors linking Asia, Africa, and the Americas. I’m excited to carry on these discussions in order to guarantee a bright and just future for all.
Another key topic during this year’s World Governments Summit was the revolutionary potential of biotechnology, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and sustainability-driven technologies. Al Zeyoudi discussed the UAE’s initiatives to use cutting-edge technology to boost industrial efficiency and innovation, as well as to set up the necessary legal frameworks to support it, with Roberto Viola, Director-General of the European Commission’s CONNECT project.
Alongside important industry pioneers including Shilpan Amin of GM International, Akash Palkhiwala of Qualcomm, Arvind Krishna of IBM, and Jean-Pascal Tricoire of Schneider Electric, he also emphasized the UAE’s position as a champion of innovation. Al Zeyoudi asked them to expand their regional presence and praised their commitment to the vibrant business environment in the United Arab Emirates.
