Shakhbout Bin Nahyan participates in Investopia International

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Milan, May 15 / WAM / His Excellency Sheikh Shakhbout bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, participated in Investopia Global, which was held in the city of Milan, the Republic of Italy, on May 15, along with a number of senior officials in the government and private sectors, business leaders, and investors from the UAE, Italy, and a number of African countries.

His Excellency delivered a speech during the event, in which he affirmed the commitment of the UAE, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, “may God protect him”, to strengthen long-term economic and investment partnerships, and to build bridges of cooperation between the UAE, Italy and African markets, in a way that supports joint growth and opens new horizons for the private sector.

His Excellency pointed out that the UAE’s approach to Africa is based on a solid development legacy established by the founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, “may God rest his soul,” by supporting sustainable productive projects in a number of African countries, and this reflects the UAE’s belief that true investment is the investment that contributes to empowering communities, building capabilities, and achieving a long-term development impact.

His Excellency reviewed the promising opportunities for cooperation in a number of vital sectors, including trade, logistics, renewable energy, food security, digital infrastructure, technology, and artificial intelligence.

His Excellency pointed out that the UAE’s “Artificial Intelligence for Development” initiative, worth one billion US dollars, reflects the country’s belief in the potential of artificial intelligence to support comprehensive and sustainable growth, especially in Africa, by enhancing digital infrastructure and developing practical solutions in sectors such as education, agriculture, health care, infrastructure, and adaptation to climate change.

His Excellency stressed that the future of cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence must be based on trust, responsibility, and respect for countries’ national priorities. He also stressed that the UAE believes that technology partnerships should contribute to building national capabilities, transferring knowledge, and empowering local institutions, while respecting the principles of data sovereignty, privacy, transparency, and responsible use of technology.

On the sidelines of the event, His Excellency Sheikh Shakhbut bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, along with His Excellency Badr Jaafar, Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Business and Charitable Affairs, chaired a meeting with the participation of an elite group of senior CEOs in Italy.

The discussions discussed ways to enhance Emirati-Italian cooperation in Africa, and explore opportunities to build partnerships in priority sectors, including investment, energy, infrastructure, logistics, health, food security, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence.

The meeting also discussed opportunities to benefit from the Mattei Plan for Africa to enhance tripartite cooperation between the UAE, Italy and African countries, through developing implementable projects that combine Italian industrial and technical expertise, Emirati investment and logistics platforms, and the development needs of African markets, in a way that supports sustainable growth and opens new horizons for the private sector.

In this regard, His Excellency Badr Jaafar delivered a keynote speech entitled: “From Trust to Corridors: The UAE, Italy, and the New Geography of Growth,” during which he highlighted the UAE’s economic openness and its role in building reliable investment corridors.

In his keynote speech, His Excellency Badr Jaafar pointed out that the UAE’s sobriety is strategic, not circumstantial, based on decades of thoughtful investment in economic diversification, infrastructure, logistics, financial stability, and private sector growth. He also stressed the strength of economic relations between the UAE and Italy, noting that non-oil trade between the two countries reached about 14 billion US dollars in 2024, achieving growth of approximately 19% on an annual basis, and that The UAE’s investment commitment in Italy worth US$40 billion reflects the growing strategic depth of the bilateral partnership.

The visit also included bilateral meetings aimed at strengthening the UAE’s economic and investment partnerships with Italy and African markets.

His Excellency Sheikh Shakhbout bin Nahyan Al Nahyan held a bilateral meeting with Her Excellency Dr. Jomoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, where the two sides discussed ways to enhance trade and investment cooperation and develop partnership opportunities in sectors of common interest.

He also met with Mr. Lorenzo Ortona, the Italian representative of the Rome Process, where they discussed opportunities to enhance tripartite cooperation between the UAE and Italy within the framework of common priorities in support of development and investment in Africa.

These participations came in the context of the growing economic momentum between the UAE and Italy, and between the UAE and Africa, confirming the country’s role in promoting global economic prosperity and practical connectivity and partnerships in high-growth markets.