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Business Hub – Cairo:
In the presence of the ministers of industry in Egypt, the UAE, Jordan and Bahrain: the launch of the activities of the second meeting of the Higher Committee for the Integrated Industrial Partnership in Cairo… and the announcement of the accession of the Kingdom of Bahrain
Today, in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, the activities of the second meeting of the Higher Committee for Integrated Industrial Partnership for sustainable economic development, which includes Egypt, the UAE and Jordan, were launched. United Arab Emirates and Yousef Al-Shamali, Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
The accession of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the partnership contributes to expanding its scope and maximizing the benefit from the industrial potentials of the member states
The meetings witnessed the announcement of the State of Bahrain joining the Integrated Industrial Partnership Initiative, along with the three founding countries of the partnership. In the presence of Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Industry and Commerce in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The Supreme Committee adopted the recommendations issued by the Executive Committee of the Industrial Partnership, which was held over two days in Cairo, with the participation of companies working in the fields of agriculture, food, fertilizers and medicines. A list of 87 proposed projects was prepared in the targeted sectors, including 12 eligible to enter the feasibility studies stage in the sectors of agriculture, food, fertilizers and medicines as a first stage, with initial investments of $3.4 billion. With a focus in the next phase on the sectors of metals, chemicals, plastics, textiles and clothing.
Nevin Gamea: The industrial partnership between the four countries is the nucleus for achieving industrial integration, securing supply chains, achieving self-sufficiency and establishing sustainable economic development.
In her speech during the meeting, Minister of Trade and Industry Nevin Gamea stressed that achieving Arab industrial integration is an imperative to confront the negative repercussions of the global economic crisis, which reflected the importance of strengthening regional partnership between Arab countries and activating the role of the private sector as a major player in implementing sustainable development plans and achieving prosperity for the peoples of the Arab region.
The minister said that the integrative industrial partnership signed between Egypt, the UAE and Jordan represents a basic pillar to achieve the desired industrial integration by securing supply chains and achieving self-sufficiency. localization of industry and integration of value chains, To reach integrated industries with added value, achieving sustainable economic development, contribute to creating more job opportunities, She expressed Egypt’s great welcome for the sisterly Kingdom of Bahrain to join this partnership, which will contribute to expanding the scope of the partnership and maximizing the benefit from the industrial components of the four countries.
Gamea explained that Cairo’s hosting of the meeting of the Higher Committee for the Integrated Industrial Partnership comes within the framework of strengthening joint efforts between Egypt, the UAE, Jordan and Bahrain. To arrive at joint cooperation formulas to achieve industrial integration and to contribute to advancing the economic relations between the participating member states to distinct levels and for the benefit of the peoples of brotherly countries.
The necessity of solidarity and interdependence between Arab countries and the implementation of more economic partnerships to face the repercussions of international economic challenges
The Minister of Trade and Industry indicated that the current period is witnessing many political and economic changes on the regional and global arenas. Which calls for more solidarity and interdependence among the Arab countries and the implementation of more economic partnerships to provide relative protection for the peoples of the four countries from current and future fluctuations.
Gamea pointed out the importance of benefiting from the opportunities for joint cooperation and the great economic potentials, as well as the human, scientific and technological capabilities available in the four countries to support economic relations through the exchange of experiences. Establishing partnerships and benefiting from the markets of the four countries in enhancing the rates of intra-regional trade.
I call on companies to make the most of qualitative partnerships and competitive advantages in the participating countries and to move to advanced stages of feasibility studies for implementation
The minister noted that the industrial partnership between Egypt, the UAE, Jordan and Bahrain contributes to strengthening cooperation in achieving integration of value chains between the four countries through joint industrial projects. As well as the development of achieving common interests in pursuit of self-sufficiency, comprehensive and sustainable economic development, Emphasizing the Egyptian government’s keenness to provide all facilities that would support this partnership, removing all obstacles between the participating countries, And take all urgent measures to ensure the implementation of the partnership action plan in its various stages, To achieve the common goal, And for the benefit of brotherly countries.
For his part, His Excellency Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology of the United Arab Emirates, said at the beginning of his speech at the meeting of the Higher Committee of Industrial Integrative Partnership for Sustainable Economic Development: “Confirms the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, God save him, On the importance of cooperation, synergy and integration of efforts to achieve economic development, which we view as an essential enabler for the stability, growth and prosperity of societies, And take advantage of the areas of integration, competitive advantages and capabilities of the participating countries in order to build a sustainable economic base. “
The UAE affirms its serious commitment to the partnership through the investment fund that will be managed by the “ADQ” holding company, with a value of 10 billion dollars, to invest in the projects emanating from this partnership.
His Excellency added: “The UAE affirms its serious commitment to the partnership through the investment fund to be managed by the Holding Company /ADQ, with a value of 10 billion dollars to invest in the projects emanating from this partnership in the agreed sectors. At the first meeting of the Supreme Committee, we identified the five main sectors and the list of ten projects The first focus of this partnership is, We looked forward to the industrial opportunities and the growth we aspire to, the expected economic value, We have now moved to the stage of implementing these goals that were announced at the start of this partnership. Through technical meetings and workshops held.
Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber: We welcome the accession of the sisterly Kingdom of Bahrain as an essential and active partner, The industrial sector in Bahrain plays a vital and essential role in sustainable economic development
His Excellency said, “Today we welcome Bahrain’s accession as a key and active partner in this partnership. The industrial sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain plays a vital and essential role in sustainable economic development. Bahrain also has a successful industrial experience, and industrial strategy, and its initiatives that will strengthen this quadripartite partnership today, It is also characterized by its strategic location and the provision of advanced logistics services. and trained and innovative human resources, and business environment supportive of investments, In addition to the compatibility of their industrial strategy with the objectives of the integrated industrial partnership for sustainable economic development.
His Excellency added, “We thank the sisterly Arab Republic of Egypt for hosting the meeting of the Supreme Committee. We appreciate the active role played by the partners in the sisterly Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, For the success of this partnership by all means and efforts. We also thank the members of the Executive Committee of the Integrated Industrial Partnership for sustainable economic development for their efforts during the past period in cooperation with private sector companies, To access an up-to-date list of potential joint ventures, We look forward to reviewing this list and identifying the next steps required of the private sector companies. And also from government agencies and supporting bodies to ensure the feasibility of projects, As well as ensuring its rapid implementation in accordance with the best standards and practices.
His Excellency said: “I call on companies to make the most of quality partnerships, and competitive advantages in the participating countries, and moving to advanced stages of feasibility studies for implementation, For us as government agencies, We have to study the capabilities required for these projects, and do everything in our power to overcome obstacles, Providing support and assistance to ensure the optimal implementation of projects, and achieving the maximum sustainable economic and social benefit.
His Excellency added, “This partnership is open to the joining of more parties wishing to develop the industrial sector, and integration of resources and industries, Take advantage of the competitive advantages in each country, Where concerted efforts and teamwork can lead to fruitful results, By cutting costs, securing supply chains, and create more job opportunities, contribute to economic development, promoting self-sufficiency, In addition to taking advantage of technological development plans, and foreseeing the future.”
Youssef Al-Shamali: The industrial partnership between the four countries represents a real opportunity to establish new partnerships between businessmen from Jordan, Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain, expand areas of cooperation and agree on investments that will positively reflect on the desired sustainable development.
In turn, Yousef Al-Shamali, Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, said, “Today’s meeting comes as a continuation of the meetings of the Executive Committee of the Partnership in the past two days and the participation of the activities of the private sectors and the culmination of the sectoral meetings and workshops that have been held with momentum during the past weeks and included specialists in our countries and business owners in the sectors of medicine, agriculture and fertilizers. and food, Two months have passed since Jordan, the UAE and Egypt announced the launch of an integrated industrial partnership to achieve sustainable development in Abu Dhabi.
Al-Shamali referred to the directives of His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein that Jordan should always be a pioneer in supporting the various forms of joint Arab action, which is based on today’s meeting of the visions of the leaders of our countries about the concerted efforts of cooperation and coordination and the summits they held for this purpose, which will become the nucleus of fruitful economic cooperation for countries quarter to, Pointing out that this meeting comes as an affirmation of the political and economic relations between our countries and the launch of a new phase of the systematic pursuit towards actual economic integration whose impact is felt by our peoples and whose success attracts the joining of more brotherly Arab countries to launch a new phase of joint cooperation and constructive economic integration.
He pointed out that the presence of the Kingdom of Bahrain in this partnership will constitute a strong impetus and economic impetus for the Industrial Partnership Initiative, accelerating the achievement of the desired economic integration and building unique industrial partnerships capable of enhancing the objectives of the initiative and achieving economic growth in our countries and the well-being of our peoples, thus contributing to the establishment of a new phase based on cooperation Close and joint action to achieve the visions of our leaders and the interests of our state and our peoples.
Al-Shamali added that with the emergence of the global food security crisis, priorities must be arranged to find serious practical solutions to reduce its repercussions on our peoples and countries, and to give our economies the necessary strength to confront any future global turmoil. Pointing out that there is a real opportunity to translate what has been agreed upon into actual projects through new partnerships between businessmen from Jordan, Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain, expanding areas of cooperation and agreeing on investments that will reflect positively on the sustainable development we seek.
The meeting reviewed priority projects for our countries to enhance food and drug security to ensure the sustainability of the provision of goods
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan noted that the four countries discussed during the meeting projects of interest and priority for our countries that would enhance food and drug security in a way that ensures the sustainability of the provision of goods and prevents any interruptions or imbalances that may result from price distortions and even stimulates growth and economic diversification It reduces import costs and facilitates finding alternative sources of goods. Pointing out that the summit meetings that brought together His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein and his brothers, His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, His Excellency President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan emphasized the importance of achieving these goals and showed the congruence of views on many common issues and regional issues Arabic.
Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani: We appreciate your support for the Kingdom of Bahrain to join this partnership, which reflects keenness to promote industrial integration and strive to achieve sustainable industrial development
For his part, His Excellency Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Industry and Commerce in the Kingdom of Bahrain, conveyed in his speech the greetings of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, And his appreciation for the support of the Kingdom of Bahrain to join this partnership, which reflects the keenness to enhance industrial integration between the Arab countries and the world, And striving to achieve sustainable industrial development, which is in line with the visions and aspirations of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain. To achieve comprehensive economic development, and creating promising qualitative opportunities.
His Excellency said, “The Kingdom of Bahrain has achieved continuous success and growth over the past years in the industrial sector. This came as a result of the policies adopted by the government since the sixties of the last century, which aimed at not relying on oil and natural gas products alone. And make the industrial sector a diversified sector by establishing factories working in the fields of aluminum, petrochemicals and others, In addition to establishing new industrial zones, And seeking to attract foreign investments by encouraging industrial projects and preparing the infrastructure for their establishment.”
His Excellency added, “In order to advance the industrial sector, The Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain launched the Industrial Sector Strategy (2022-2026) on December 30, 2021. As a pivotal part of the economic recovery plan, which includes 5 main axes: strengthening national industries, investing in infrastructure, improving the investor experience, and guide Bahrainis professionally, updating legislation and laws, It aims to raise the GDP of the industrial sector, Increasing the sector’s exports of national origin, And provide promising job opportunities for citizens. The strategy is based on supporting the sector’s transformation towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Applying the concept of a circular economy to carbon and environmental and social governance, encourage investment in technological infrastructure and digitize manufacturing, Increasing the efficiency of supply and supply chains through the integration of Gulf industries to reach a developed and sustainable industry based on innovative and advanced initiatives, Through this strategy, we target a number of industries that intersect with the industries targeted in this initiative. which we believe provide opportunities for growth and prosperity, especially the manufacturing industries in the aluminum and petrochemical sectors, In addition to clean industries represented in renewable energy, green and blue hydrogen, which supports the Kingdom of Bahrain’s commitment to reach carbon neutrality by 2060, In addition to the food and pharmaceutical industries, and microelectronics industries.
His Excellency extended his sincere thanks to the Ministry of Trade and Industry in the Arab Republic of Egypt for hosting these meetings and this important event in the industrial development process.
Detailed view of the partnership
During the meeting, Presented by His Excellency Omar Suwain Al-Suwaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology in the UAE, A presentation on the most important developments regarding the industrial partnership, The findings of the workshops on the targeted sectors, industrial investment opportunities and priority projects in the targeted sectors, The addition that will constitute the accession of Bahrain, The most prominent aspirations during the coming period for the development of this partnership.
Important input from CEOs
The second meeting of the Higher Committee for an Integrated Industrial Partnership for Sustainable Economic Development witnessed the ratification of the guide to joining the Integrated Industrial Partnership. Approval of the minutes of the first meeting of the Partnership Higher Committee, Work reports for the agriculture, food and fertilizer sectors were also presented. the pharmaceutical sector, textiles and apparel sector, the metal sector, In addition to listening to important interventions and participations of CEOs from industrial companies in the participating countries.
Advantages of countries in industrial partnership
The contribution of the industrial sector to the total GDP of each of (the UAE, Egypt and Jordan) is 30% of the contribution of the industrial sector in the Middle East and North Africa region. And in 2019, The total value of its industrial exports reached 65 billion dollars. While the total population of these countries is 122 million, representing 27% of the population of the Middle East and North Africa region. Among them, 49% are young people under the age of 24, The value of foreign direct investment in the UAE, Egypt, and Jordan to 151 billion dollars during the period 2016-2020, The total value of exports to the countries of the world from these countries amounted to 433 billion dollars as in 2019. The value of imports amounted to approximately 399 billion dollars. initiatives and strategies that support the industrial sector, And advanced infrastructure in the field of services, transportation, and freight, Availability of raw materials, expertise, and capital, and industrial areas, Under laws and legislation that support local and foreign investments.
Bahrain is an active partner
The accession of Bahrain, which has a gross domestic product of $39 billion, will constitute A positive addition to the partnership, As the GDP of the Partnership countries is expected to increase to $809 billion, Increasing opportunities for the food and agricultural sector by 1.7 billion dollars, and $4 billion in mineral products, and $1.7 billion in chemicals and plastics, and $0.5 billion in medical products, Adding $2.36 billion worth of raw aluminum exports.
Bahrain’s accession will increase the partnership’s contribution to the industrial added value of the Middle East from $106.26 billion to $112.56 billion. This represents 30% of the industrial value added in the Middle East. Bahrain adds $2.3 billion to the value of iron ores that can be used in industrial development in the four countries. Bahrain has a strong industrial sector with more than 9,500 industrial companies, 55,000 employees in the industry, and $4.3 billion in FDI specific to the industrial sector.
Since 1975, the Kingdom of Bahrain has focused on the industrial sector. which aims to diversify sources of income and the economy, Bahrain established new industrial zones, It also worked to attract foreign investments by encouraging and promoting industrial projects. In addition to expanding the sector in order to facilitate the growth of the local industry, Where industries in Bahrain focus on petrochemicals, plastics, aluminum alloy, food processing, garment industry, engineering, In addition to ship repair, iron granulation processes, fertilizer industry, In addition to the presence of an active banking sector in the Kingdom.
Bahrain exports mineral products worth $4 billion annually. Full foreign ownership is allowed in the industrial sector, Bahrain is an ideal hub for operations in the Arabian Gulf region. It is characterized by Mina Salman, which is located in Manama, By carrying out high-level loading, shipping, export and import operations, In addition to air logistics operations in the field of storage, shipping and available spaces.
The participating UAE delegation
The delegation of the United Arab Emirates participating in the meetings of the Supreme Committee included, Her Excellency Maryam Al Kaabi, UAE Ambassador to Cairo, and His Excellency Mohammed Hassan Al-Suwaidi, Managing Director and CEO of ADQ Holdings, His Excellency Abdullah Al Shamsi, Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology for the Industrial Development Sector, Bader Saeed Al Lamki, CEO of ADNOC Distribution, and Muhammad Saif Al-Ariani. CEO of ADNOC International.
The Egyptian delegation participating in the meetings included Hatem Al-Ashry, Adviser to the Minister and Chairman of the Executive Committee for the Egyptian side, and members of the Committee are Major General/ Mohamed Al-Zalat, President of the Industrial Development Authority, and Engineer/ Mohamed Abdel Karim, Executive Director of the Industrial Modernization Center, and Dr. Khaled Abdel Azim, Executive Director of the Federation of Egyptian Industries, and Dr. Mohamed Labib, Assistant Minister.
The delegation of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan participating in the meetings included His Excellency Ambassador Amjad Al-Adayleh, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Jordan in Cairo, Dana Al-Zoubi, Secretary General of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Wafaa Jeries, Director of Foreign Trade Policies at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in addition to the Minister delegated to Ali Al-Basoul
The delegation of the Kingdom of Bahrain participating in the meetings also included His Excellency Mr. Hisham bin Mohammed Al-Jowder, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to Cairo, Osama Saleh Al-Alawi, Undersecretary for National Economy at the Ministry of Finance and National Economy, and Dr. Khaled Al-Alawi, Assistant Undersecretary for Industry Development.
The first meeting of the Supreme Committee
The first meeting of the Higher Committee for the Integrated Industrial Partnership for sustainable economic development was signed between the United Arab Emirates, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, held in early June, Where the meeting discussed mechanisms for expanding the partnership through the accession of new members to it. Accelerate the pace of economically feasible opportunities under the umbrella of the industrial sector in the participating countries, and facilitating cooperation and integration by involving more sectors, Coordinating with work teams that include government agencies and the private sector to listen to their visions and expectations for growth through this partnership, Focusing on the importance of private sector participation and its important role in activating this industrial partnership, which focuses on five sectors, Includes agriculture, food, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, textiles, minerals, and petrochemicals.
Tasks of the Supreme Committee
The Higher Committee of the Integrated Industrial Partnership for sustainable economic development is concerned with a set of tasks, Most notably, enabling private sector entities to implement partnership investment projects. By involving companies interested in investing in key sectors in the participating countries, determining feasibility studies for priority projects, Develop a roadmap for the implementation of priority projects within the first phase, As well as monitoring the most important challenges and possibilities to stimulate industrial investment in partnership with the private sector, In order to identify and enable the ingredients for the implementation of priority projects.
