The fourth edition of Investopia 2025 is being held under the esteemed patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the State, Deputy Prime Minister, and Head of the Presidential Court.
This edition marked the inaugural conference for business leaders and investors from the Arab states, Central Asian countries, and Azerbaijan, under the slogan “Towards Sustainable Cooperation and Partnership,” on February 26 in the UAE’s capital.
This edition witnessed the participation of a distinguished group of ministers, government officials, and business leaders from the Arab and Asian regions, including His Excellency Abdullah bin Tawq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Head of Investopia; His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zayoudi, and Minister of State for Foreign Trade; Her Excellency Alya bint Abdullah Al Mazrouei.
Also present at Investopia were Minister of State for Entrepreneurship; His Excellency Hassan Al Khateeb, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade of Egypt; His Excellency Samir Obaid, Minister of Trade and Export Development of Tunisia; His Excellency Said Ahmed Abou, and Minister of Economy and Finance of Mauritania; His Excellency Mostafa Hassan Mohamed.
Additionally, the Minister of Economy, Industry and Investment in the Union of the Comoros; His Excellency Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Sayed, Minister of State for Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of Qatar; His Excellency Dr. Khalid Hanfi, Secretary General of the Arab Chambers Federation; His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Ali bin Ibrahim Al Maliki, Assistant Secretary General and Head of the Economic Affairs Sector at the Arab League; His Excellency Khaled bin Ali bin Salem Al Sanidi, and Assistant Secretary General for Economic and Development Affairs at the GCC Secretariat; His Excellency Tarek Al Sharif, were present at Investopia 2025.
Others included Vice President of the Arab Businessmen’s Union; His Excellency Shokhrukh Ghulamov, Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan; and His Excellency Samed Bashirli, Deputy Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan.
His Excellency Abdullah bin Tawq Al Marri, in his opening remarks at the Investopia conference, affirmed that Investopia’s hosting of this economic event reflects the UAE and the Ministry of Economy’s commitment to enhancing joint economic cooperation on both the Arab and Asian fronts, particularly in sectors of the new economy.
He pointed out that Investopia represents an important platform for building sustainable economic partnerships and strengthening communication among the Arab and Asian business communities, thereby enabling them to benefit from promising economic and investment opportunities.
Meanwhile, His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zayoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, stressed that the choice of the UAE as the host of this international event reflects its growing and influential role on the global trade and investment map.
He confirmed that the state is committed to continuously enhancing cooperation with its partners on both the Arab and Asian levels, in line with the strategic objectives of the “We Are UAE 2031” vision, thereby reinforcing its status as a global trading partner and a dynamic, influential economic hub.
Her Excellency Alya bint Abdullah Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, stated, “The conference creates a new milestone for enhancing relations between the Arab and Asian countries in the fields of entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as discovering opportunities that stimulate innovation and creativity. It also provides a vital opportunity to highlight the potential of the competitive environment for entrepreneurship and start-ups in the UAE.”
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In his opening speech, His Excellency Abdullah bin Tawq stated: “The region boasts dynamic economies with rapid growth potential, as reflected in the increase of non-oil trade exchanges between the Arab states and Asia in recent years, which in 2023 reached over 10 billion dollars, with expectations of further growth in the coming years.”
He added that the UAE has served as a vital gateway for investment and trade for Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan. In 2022, the UAE’s non-oil trade with Azerbaijan exceeded 1.5 billion dollars, and with Central Asia, it surpassed 3 billion dollars, indicating a mutual desire to develop mutually beneficial projects.
His Excellency emphasized that the opportunities for economic cooperation, partnership, and investment among the region’s countries are vast and varied. He highlighted four main areas of focus: investment in green energy and sustainability, especially in solar and wind power; technology and artificial intelligence, which contribute to industrial development and innovative solutions for economic growth; facilitating trade and logistical cooperation through investment in advanced commercial corridors and logistics systems to open new markets and opportunities for companies in the region; and food security as a strategic area for cooperation and partnership between regional countries.
Role of Regional Corridors in Enhancing Global Trade
Investopia organized two discussion sessions. The first session, titled “Regional Corridors and Creating Business Opportunities,” discussed the importance of regional corridors in enhancing global trade, facilitating the flow of investments across borders, addressing challenges facing supply chains, and the role of the multilateral trading system in providing new opportunities for exporters, manufacturers, and investors.
This session featured the participation of His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zayoudi, His Excellency Samir Obaid, Minister of Trade and Export Development of Tunisia, His Excellency Said Ahmed Abou, Minister of Economy and Finance of Mauritania, and His Excellency Samed Bashirli, Deputy Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan.
During the session, His Excellency Dr. Thani Al Zayoudi underscored that commercial corridors play a pivotal role in enhancing trade and investment flows between developing and developed economies, thereby stimulating global economic growth and creating new opportunities for companies and investors.
Developments in the Region’s New Economy
The second session at Investopia, titled “The New Economy in the Region: Artificial Intelligence, Waste Management, and Food Security,” examined the developments in the region’s new economic sectors and their role in promoting sustainable development and economic resilience.
The session discussed ways to enhance cooperation to create diverse pathways that encourage countries to invest and expand in these vital sectors, as well as the importance of adopting policies and strategies that contribute to a circular economic model.
This session was attended by His Excellency Dr. Khalid Hanfi, Secretary General of the Arab Chambers Federation; His Excellency Mostafa Hassan Mohamed, Minister of Economy, Industry and Investment in the Union of the Comoros; and His Excellency Tarek Al Sharif, Vice President of the Arab Businessmen’s Union.
Both the Arab and Asian sides agreed during the discussions on the importance of expanding and deepening mutual economic relations in several vital fields, including trade, investment, energy, technology, artificial intelligence, food security, and addressing new challenges such as climate change.
Engagement
