UAE at EBRD Annual Meeting in Riga: Ministry of Finance delegation highlights governance, renewables and food security
UAE at EBRD Annual Meeting in Riga: Ministry of Finance delegation stresses economic governance, support for conflict‑affected economies, renewables, food security.
The United Arab Emirates, represented by the Ministry of Finance, is taking part in the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s annual meeting in Riga from June 5 to 7. UAE at EBRD Annual Meeting delegates are engaging with global officials to underscore priorities including economic governance, support for countries hit by conflict, renewable energy investment and food security. Ali Abdullah Sharfi, the Assistant Undersecretary for International Financial Relations at the Ministry of Finance, led the UAE delegation and delivered a keynote on governance and international cooperation.
UAE delegation led by Ministry of Finance in Riga
The UAE delegation to the EBRD annual meeting is headed by senior officials from the Ministry of Finance and includes subject-matter specialists in international financial relations. The team is participating in opening ceremonies, plenary sessions and targeted roundtables running through June 7, engaging with governors, policy makers and representatives of international financial institutions.
Officials said the delegation’s participation reflects the UAE’s commitment to multilateral engagement and to strengthening partnerships with development banks. The UAE aims to contribute technical perspectives and financing experience to collective efforts that address global economic instability and promote sustainable development.
Sharfi addresses economic governance and conflict impacts
In a session dedicated to economic governance, Ali Abdullah Sharfi warned of the spillover economic effects from regional conflicts and stressed the need for coordinated international responses. He outlined how disruptions to supply chains, energy markets and food systems can undermine recovery and stability if not addressed through joint policy action.
Sharfi also called for enhanced transparency and stronger fiscal frameworks across countries to mitigate shocks and to ensure public resources are used efficiently. His remarks urged member institutions to prioritize measures that protect vulnerable populations while maintaining macroeconomic stability.
EBRD urged to boost support for conflict-affected economies and renewables
The UAE delegation urged the EBRD to intensify assistance to economies most exposed to conflict-related disruption, using both financial instruments and technical expertise. The appeal emphasized the bank’s role in deploying concessional finance, risk mitigation tools and advisory services to preserve critical infrastructure and public services.
Delegates highlighted renewable energy projects as a strategic area for EBRD support to reduce exposure to commodity price swings and to improve long-term energy security. They argued that scaling investment in wind, solar and grid resilience will help stabilize consumption costs and create sustainable employment opportunities.
Food security and agricultural resilience emphasized
Food security formed a central theme in Sharfi’s interventions, with a call to expand technical support and innovative financing for agricultural systems. The UAE delegation stressed that targeted investment and capacity building are essential to protect food supply chains and to support farmers facing climate and market pressures.
Speakers encouraged member states to coordinate on emergency response mechanisms and to scale up financing models that reduce post-harvest loss and enhance supply chain transparency. The approach prioritizes resilience in vulnerable regions through blended finance, insurance solutions and public–private partnerships.
Digital infrastructure investment framed as growth enabler
The UAE highlighted digital infrastructure as a core pillar of sustainable growth and competitiveness in a rapidly digitizing global economy. Delegation members pointed to high-speed communications, cloud services, data centres and emerging technologies — including artificial intelligence — as investments that strengthen public services and private-sector productivity.
Officials argued that strategic financing for digital projects should accompany regulatory and skills development to maximize socio-economic benefits. The UAE’s position called for multilateral support to help countries build interoperable, secure digital platforms that foster innovation and economic inclusion.
The Riga agenda included the formal opening of the annual meeting, adoption of organizational reports and a series of plenary and roundtable discussions on the EBRD’s role in supporting economies affected by conflict, future engagement in Ukraine, and measures to strengthen governance across member operations. UAE delegates participated across these items to advance cooperative solutions and to reinforce commitments to multilateral action.
The UAE delegation will continue bilateral and multilateral consultations through the close of the EBRD annual meeting on June 7, seeking to translate dialogue into practical partnerships and financing arrangements that support recovery, resilience and sustainable development.