UAE Economy Minister Al Mari sees strong investment interest in Greece

ATHENS – The €4 billion joint investment fund reached by Greece and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in May last year is expected to spark significant investment interest in the UAE in a number of sectors including renewable energy, infrastructure, agriculture, technology, healthcare and Life Sciences, UAE Minister of Economy Abdullah bin Touk Al-Mari said in an interview with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA) that he was present in Thessaloniki as head of the UAE delegation to the 86th TIF.

He explained that the two countries have cooperated on various bilateral and multilateral initiatives to strengthen bilateral relations, including a joint statement of strategic partnership in 2020 and the establishment of a 4 billion euro investment fund in the Greek economy. Last May, the Prime Minister of Greece visited Abu Dhabi. The joint fund highlights the growing economic ties between the two countries and will lead to significant investment interest in Greece in all targeted sectors including renewable energy (RES), infrastructure, agriculture, technology, healthcare and life sciences. Say. Finally, Almari said that he believed that there is still room to strengthen cooperation in the field of investment and create new opportunities for the business communities of the two countries.

When asked about their expectations for participating in TIF, he replied that this important international event provides a valuable opportunity for both countries to strengthen existing bilateral ties by exploring opportunities in some new economic areas.

The minister added that some 60 institutions and companies present at TIF from September 9 are ready to form partnerships with Greek and European companies in all areas of common interest.

He added that the UAE delegation visited Thessaloniki and the whole of Greece with the aim of exploring the best ways to turn investment opportunities into mutually beneficial and concrete projects, while improving bilateral trade and economic relations in various fields, thereby promoting sustainable and inclusive development. “A leading international exhibition like TIF offers a great opportunity to do just that,” he stressed.

He also highlighted the prospects for cooperation between the two countries in technology and future industries, while the UAE is seeking to strengthen its international position as an innovation hub and “brain hub” (the country recently appointed a deputy minister in charge of artificial intelligence) to attract Talent from around the world, opening the economy more to entrepreneurs and investors while doubling its size by 2030.

According to the UAE official, the new economic approach adopted by the UAE government, characterized by flexibility, sustainability, openness and predictability, is a huge opportunity for Greek companies to gain a footprint in the UAE market and expand from there to the Middle East and North Africa Rest of the region (Middle East/North Africa), South Asia and Africa.