During the BRICS meeting, the Ministry of Industry signs the announcement to launch the Industrial Competencies Center in cooperation with UNIDO

The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology joined its BRICS counterparts in signing a declaration to launch an industrial competence centre in cooperation with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to support the development of industrial skills and capabilities..

This came during the eighth meeting of the BRICS Industry Ministers, chaired by the Russian Federation and held in the city of

Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, under the theme “Promoting Multilateralism for Equitable Global Development and Security”, bringing together the Ministries of Industry, Trade and Technology from the United Arab Emirates, Russia, Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Iran and South Africa.

The center will work to empower the industrial sector and develop the industrial skills of the countries that signed the declaration in light of the rapid developments in the industrial sector, in a way that enhances partnerships and available opportunities, and contributes to developing industrial capabilities, through cooperation and strengthening relations..

The announcement was signed on behalf of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology by His Excellency Omar Al Suwaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry, as part of its efforts to enhance regional and international partnerships, benefit from expertise, exchange knowledge, enhance innovation, develop industrial capabilities, and benefit from the rapid transformations in the industrial sector and future industries..

His Excellency Omar Al Suwaidi said that the center will contribute to establishing partnerships and exchanging expertise with countries that have innovative experiences in the industrial sector, especially since economic transformations and the essential role played by the industrial sector require strengthening partnerships and increasing available opportunities between countries in the region and the world, which is what the National Strategy for Industry and Advanced Technology – Project 300 Billion targets..

He added that the UAE attaches special importance to strengthening relations with countries of the world in all fields, stressing the UAE’s commitment to strengthening relations with its global partners to benefit from mutual economic opportunities, which are a major driver of sustainable development and a means of addressing major global challenges, such as food security and climate change..

Al-Suwaidi thanked the Russian Federation for its active role and presidency of the meeting, saying that the BRICS countries represent nearly 45% of the world’s population and nearly a third of the global GDP, indicating the availability of opportunities to enhance bilateral and collective cooperation with the aim of promoting sustainable development..

His Excellency stressed the keenness of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology to contribute to the working groups established under this partnership and to provide its expertise to develop and enable industrial growth in order to achieve mutual benefit for all members, deepen economic relations, and develop the industrial sector, which is one of the successful sectors in the UAE..

The announcement includes work to establish several specialized working groups in areas such as the chemical industry, metals, small and medium-sized enterprises, smart manufacturing, clean technology, and medical equipment..

Under the declaration, the signatory members affirmed their commitment to cooperate in the field of industrial policy to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure, including the adoption and utilization of green technologies, and commended the efforts of the BRICS Startup Forum in supporting start-up projects that play an important role in driving innovation and economic growth..

The signed declaration praised the role of the Innovation Center.“PartNIR” which focuses on policy coordination, staff training and project development, and has previously hosted events such as the BRICS New Industrial Revolution Expo, the BRICS Forum on“PartNIR”BRICS Industrial Innovation Competition, BRICS Forum on Future Network Innovation.

During the meeting, the agreements and decisions taken during previous meetings to enhance cooperation between BRICS countries in manufacturing, innovation, inclusion and investment were reviewed, including the Second Johannesburg Declaration on August 23, 2023..

Delegates expressed their support for Brazil to host the 9th BRICS Industry Ministers’ Meeting in 2025..

The UAE has officially joined the BRICS group after the five founding countries approved its request to join the group, namely the Federative Republic of Brazil, the Russian Federation, the Republic of India, the People’s Republic of China, and the Republic of South Africa. This announcement came during the meeting of the leaders of the five countries from August 22 to 24, 2023 in Johannesburg to attend the 15th BRICS Summit..

The UAE is a strategic partner of the BRICS group, which is considered one of the most important economic blocs in the world, given the growth figures that the countries of this bloc have been achieving over the years, which has made it the focus of attention of a number of other countries trying to join the group, which is expected to constitute 45% of the global economy by 2040..

The UAE participated in the BRICS Friends Forum in June 2023 in Cape Town, which is part of the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting chaired by the Republic of South Africa, and joined the BRICS New Development Bank in October 2021, after it was established in 2015 to mobilize resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in developing and emerging countries and in the group’s countries..