UAE Economic Tour in South America Strengthens Trade and Investment Ties
UAE economic tour in South America deepened commercial links as a minister-led delegation visited Panama, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile and Guyana to expand non-oil trade and investment.
The eight-day UAE economic tour in South America, led by Minister of State for Foreign Trade Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, brought together government officials and private-sector delegations to pursue trade and investment opportunities. The visit combined bilateral meetings, business forums and participation at the MERCOSUR summit in Asunción to map new partnerships across the region. The delegation targeted strategic sectors including technology, renewable energy, agriculture, logistics, mining and financial services.
Delegation Visits Five Countries Over Eight Days
The delegation’s itinerary covered Panama, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile and Guyana, reflecting a deliberate push to broaden the UAE’s economic footprint in Latin America. Officials described the tour as part of the UAE’s broader “Days of Emirati Trade” initiative that mobilises public and private actors to open new markets. Business councils and corporate representatives accompanied government ministers to hold sector-specific talks and investment roundtables.
Meetings were designed to pair Emirati companies with local counterparts and to identify projects suitable for joint ventures and supply-chain integration. The eight-day schedule allowed time for high-level state engagements as well as targeted private-sector matchmaking sessions in each capital.
High-Level Meetings and Business Forums Held
The UAE delegation engaged with heads of state, senior ministers and business leaders across the five countries, combining ceremonial protocol with detailed commercial dialogues. Forums organised during the tour assembled private-sector representatives from both sides to discuss concrete projects and investment pipelines. These forums included focused sessions on technology transfer, logistics links and financing mechanisms for cross-border projects.
Bilateral talks were used to identify regulatory or logistical barriers to trade and to discuss ways to facilitate Emirati companies’ entry into regional markets. Visit organisers emphasised the importance of parallel public- and private-sector engagement to turn diplomatic goodwill into commercial agreements.
Focus on Non-Oil Trade and Strategic Sectors
A central objective of the tour was to increase non-oil bilateral trade and diversify economic linkages. Delegates highlighted opportunities in renewable energy, agribusiness and food processing where South American suppliers and Emirati investors can find mutual benefit. Logistics and transport were priorities given the UAE’s role as a global trade hub that can link South American producers to markets in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Officials also explored partnerships in mining, security solutions and financial services to support expanded trade flows. The delegation sought to position Emirati firms as investors and service providers in projects that add value to regional supply chains rather than solely trading commodities.
UAE Participation at MERCOSUR Summit in Asunción
The tour included UAE participation at the MERCOSUR summit held in Asunción, Paraguay, marking closer engagement with the South American trade bloc. Emirati representatives met with MERCOSUR leaders and partner states to discuss pathways for deeper commercial and investment cooperation. Engagement with regional economic blocs was presented by the UAE as a strategic way to scale partnerships beyond bilateral ties.
Officials framed the MERCOSUR engagement as complementary to one-to-one country visits, offering an avenue for broader agreements and frameworks that could facilitate market access for UAE firms across the bloc’s member states.
Trade Numbers and Economic Impact Highlighted
Officials referenced the growing scale of UAE–MERCOSUR economic relations, noting that non-oil bilateral trade reached about $6.2 billion (roughly AED 22.7 billion) during 2025. Delegation leaders said those figures underline the commercial potential of deeper ties and the value of sustained engagement. Organisers argued that targeted investment and joint projects can create additional value for both sides and support sustainable development goals.
The tour’s proponents emphasised that expanding the network of economic partners contributes to the UAE’s strategy of building a more competitive, open and diversified economy. They presented the trip as a step toward increasing Emirati companies’ presence in high-growth Latin American markets.
Private Sector Expansion and Next Steps
A major emphasis of the visit was on enabling private-sector access to new contracts and partnerships, with follow-up mechanisms to convert dialogues into deals. UAE officials said they aim to support Emirati firms in establishing operations, signing joint ventures and participating in infrastructure and renewable-energy projects across the region. Business delegations left with lists of potential partners and project leads that ministries in the UAE and host countries will track.
Officials indicated there will be further technical and commercial exchanges, including feasibility studies and investor missions, to capitalise on contacts made during the tour. The objective is to move from talks to signed agreements and to ensure projects deliver measurable economic returns.
The delegation framed the tour as part of a longer-term strategy to anchor the UAE as a global trade and investment gateway by strengthening ties with resource-rich and fast-growing economies in South America.