H.E. Bin Touq heads UAE economic delegation to Italy to develop economic partnership & enhance cooperation in new economic sectors

‘Investopia Europe’ to explore promising investment opportunities in creative economy, tourism, entrepreneurship & sustainability

An official UAE delegation led by H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, will arrive in Italy this week to explore the development of economic partnership between the two countries and enhance government and private sector level cooperation in the new economic sectors. Another area of focus will be partnerships aimed at investment and economic development that serve the competitiveness and sustainability of both economies.

The visiting UAE delegation includes more than 35 government and private sector participants, most notably the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai Future District Fund, Sharaf Group, HSBC Bank, and Beeah Group.

During the visit, the second edition of ‘Investopia Europe’ will be held in the Italian city of Milan for the second consecutive year to explore promising investment opportunities in the areas of creative economy, tourism, entrepreneurship, and sustainability. The summit will highlight latest global trends in the expansion of businesses into new markets to attract investment, along with recent funding trends in European markets.

‘Investopia Europe’ this year will feature a series of panel discussions and roundtables on mechanisms to promote global economic growth and build sustainable partnerships. It aims to encourage investment in sectors and activities related to the creative economy and various areas of sustainability, and growth opportunities for SMEs. Besides, it will highlight how the private sector benefits from investment exchanges between the UAE and Italian markets. The event is expected to draw more than 50 speakers and 600 participants including government officials, C-level executives, entrepreneurs, experts, decision-makers, and representatives of a wide range of private sector companies and financial institutions in Cyprus, Italy, Malta and the UAE.

During the visit, the Minister of Economy will also hold several bilateral meetings with an array of ministers from Italy, Malta and Cyprus, with the aim of further developing joint economic and trade relations.

Tourism is a key sector in which the UAE and Italy will seek to enhance economic relations. In 2023, the total number of Italian visitors to the UAE reached approximately 210,000, while this number totaled 265,000 in 2022. Moreover, air traffic between the two countries continues to grow, with more than 300 flights operating between the two destinations every month.