Friday, 19 April 2024

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DIPLOMACY

UAE and Colombia ink trade and economic agreement. PLUS: New EU-GCC climate platform and bin Zayed phones Iranian FM

PLUS: The UAE delivers aid in Khan Younis

It was a busy day for the UAE on the diplomacy front, with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan attending a signing ceremony  for a trade agreement between Colombia and the UAE, phoning Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian about the recent escalation of violence with Israel, and exploring cooperation with Romania.

#1- The UAE signed an economic and trade agreement with Colombia just a day after inking one with Costa Rica, in the latest in a series of agreements aimed at boosting the UAE’s non-oil foreign trade, state news agency Wam reported yesterday. The countries’ trade hit an all-time high of USD 53.1 mn in 2023, with the two countries cooperating in a variety of sectors, including renewable energy, aviation, hydrogen, freezones, and AI.

#2- More cooperation with Romania: President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Romanian Prime Minister Ion-Marcel Ciolacu discussed increasing cooperation across economy, trade, renewable energy, food security, and technology, to bolster mutual investments during the PM’s visit to the UAE, Wam reports.

More cooperation on AI + telecom regulation: During Ciolacu’s visit, the two countries signed two MoUs, one focusing on AI and the digital economy, while the other involved a collaboration between the UAE Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority and the National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications of Romania. Cooperation principles between both countries were also set for a joint venture shareholders agreement to be signed in July of this year.

ALSO- State Minister for International Cooperation Reem Al Hashemi and State Minister Ahmed El Sayegh met with Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister Luminita Odubescu to explore ways to boost investments between the two countries, Wam reported separately. The two sides mentioned avenues for cooperation including in trade, technology, AI, and infrastructure.


#3- The president stressed the need to exercise the “utmost self-restraint” in a call with Iran’s Amir-Abdollahian, to prevent escalating tension in the region, less than a week after Iran launched its drone attack against Israel, Wam reported. They also discussed ways to boost bilateral ties.


#4- EU + GCC launch platform to accelerate green transition: The EU and GCC have launched the EU-GCC Cooperation on Green Transition project to facilitate collaboration in clean energy and climate action, according to a statement Thursday. The initiative, unveiled at the World Future Energy Summit, seeks to exchange best practices, promote green policies and technologies, and foster a business environment between green tech companies in the EU and those in the Gulf. The initiative aims to develop the infrastructure, policies, and skills necessary for significantly increasing renewable energy deployment.

ALSO WORTH NOTING-

  • State Minister Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan emphasized the UAE’s keenness to invest in renewable energy in Africa during a high-level plenary session at the meeting of the IRENA Assembly in Abu Dhabi. (Wam)