UAE minister discusses enhancing Emirati, US ties

Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, has highlighted the importance of strengthening Emirati-American relations and expanding cooperation during a summit held in Washington DC.

The meetings were part of her recent visit to the US capital, where she attended the three-day Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate summit (AIM for Climate), organised by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and the UAE Embassy in the United States. 

The goal was to highlight the importance of collaboration in investment, food security, agricultural innovation, climate change solutions, and other vital areas of cooperation between the two countries, such as sustainable financing.

The summit also saw the attendance of high-profile figures such as Tom Vilsack, the US Secretary of Agriculture, John Kerry, the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, along with many ministers and representatives from various governmental and non-governmental organisations engaged in the AIM for Climate initiative.

Almheiri participated in a panel discussion with a group of representatives from the US-UAE Business Council and representatives from various vital American sectors working in aviation, insurance, banks, entertainment sector companies, and various companies operating in the American agriculture and food sector.

The minister showcased the UAE's investment capabilities, ease of doing business, and the size of reciprocal investment between the UAE and the US, especially in the food sector. She also exchanged ideas on the investment landscape in the two countries and the areas through which progress can be made in terms of investments and sustainable financing in the coming period.

In another session with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Almheiri highlighted the UAE's commitment to enhancing dialogue and cooperation regarding climate change and food security, part of its global commitment, especially with the UAE's preparations to host the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP28 in November.

Furthermore, she shed light on the UAE's devotion to sustainable development and climate action. Almheiri referred to the UAE's pioneering initiatives, such as the National Food Security Strategy 2051, the UAE's Water Security Strategy 2036, and the nationally determined contributions submitted by the UAE to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

These efforts form part of the UAE's commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement and other policies that ensure the attainment of emission reduction goals as part of the climate neutrality strategy by 2050. The minister also emphasised the UAE's efforts in bolstering biodiversity and implementing key regulations to ensure economic sectors adhere to environmental and climate standards.

Almheiri affirmed the UAE's ambition to establish a leading global position in innovation-driven food security by 2051. She emphasised the necessity of facilitating global agricultural trade, diversifying international food sources, and strengthening the local production of sustainable, technology-based food.

She also held a special meeting with John Kerry, another meeting with Dr Cary Fowler, the US Special Envoy for Food Security, and a bilateral meeting with Ambassador Katherine Tai, the US Trade Representative.

Almheiri also met with US Senator Michael Bennet and US Senator Jay Costa.

Mariam Almheiri discusses ways to enhance Emirati-American relations in investment, food security, climate, other vital cooperation files#WamNews https://t.co/783bljdQhM pic.twitter.com/Z8oYdzThkP

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