The United Arab Emirates (UAE) reaffirmed its commitment at the G20 Trade and Investment Working Group meeting to supporting an open, rules-based trading system to promote sustainable economic development, employment, industrialization, and shared prosperity. The UAE emphasized that trade is a key driver of economic development and plays a vital role in the global trading system, contributing to a more interconnected and resilient global economy.
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03-25, 2025The UAE delegation attended the meeting at the special invitation of South Africa, the 2025 G20 rotating presidency. The delegation expressed its support for the integration of developing economies into global supply chains, emphasizing the importance of achieving a just green transition, and the continued reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to uphold a free, fair, and inclusive multilateral trading system, ensuring that all nations can benefit from global commerce.
The UAE delegation was led by His Excellency Juma Al Kait, Assistant Undersecretary for International Trade Affairs at the Ministry of Economy, and included representatives from the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Investment. In his address to the working group, Al Kait noted that the UAE's trade agenda is closely aligned with the priorities of the South African presidency, particularly the structural transformation of the African continent and the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Al Kait stated that the UAE has signed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) with five African countries – Kenya, Central African Republic, Congo (Brazzaville), Morocco, and Mauritius – and has initiated dialogues with more countries to expand the benefits of free trade and promote investment in key sectors. He also highlighted the UAE's investment in regional value chains and mentioned the UAE's Africa Economic Corridor strategy, which aims to increase trade by supporting the development of new logistics hubs in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as the contributions of Abu Dhabi Ports and DP World to the development of integrated logistics solutions for African businesses.
Furthermore, the UAE supports green industrialization, which is also a core focus of the South African G20 presidency. Al Kait pointed out that the UAE has made significant investments in renewable energy projects, committing over $16.8 billion across 70 countries, the majority of which are located in developing nations. At the last meeting, the UAE emphasized the need to ensure that the WTO can fulfill its role as the regulator of the global trading system, particularly in addressing economic asymmetries. He mentioned the unprecedented progress made in agriculture and fisheries at the WTO's 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) held in Abu Dhabi in February 2024, and expressed hope that consensus can be reached at MC14 in Cameroon next year.
Al Kait added that the working group is an important opportunity for the global trade community to build consensus and advocate for open, rules-based trade. "The United Arab Emirates believes that trade is a major driver of sustainable economic development, with positive impacts on investment, industrialization, job creation and innovation. We have a responsibility to ensure that the global trading system is inclusive and accessible, especially as we face a rapidly changing trade landscape. The 2025 G20 trade priorities are fully aligned with our own foreign trade agenda, and the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Investment will continue to actively participate in this year's TIWG meetings to ensure that the benefits of trade are shared equally and fairly."
The Trade and Investment Working Group meeting was held online from March 18 to 20 and was the first working group meeting held under South Africa's G20 presidency. Three additional working group meetings will be held before the ministerial meeting in Port Elizabeth, South Africa on October 10. The G20 Presidential Summit will be held in Johannesburg in November, marking a crucial moment for global economic cooperation and policy coordination.
