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The forum, organized by the Conoscere Eurasia Association under the title “New Architecture of Cooperation for Modern Economy,” will come to the United Arab Emirates this year after forums in Baku (Azerbaijan) and Samarkand (Uzbekistan)
At a time when many are calling for a clash of civilizations, the Forum points to an alternative path, demonstrating the widespread need for a plurality of views and a strong desire for integration
After 14 events in Verona and two in Central Asia, the Forum, organized by the Conoscere Eurasia Association, is coming to the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula, also thanks to the partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the United Arab Emirates.
The forum, entitled “New Architecture of Cooperation for Modern Economy,” will bring together representatives from around the world to discuss opportunities for economic cooperation in Greater Eurasia with representatives of the Eurasian Economic Union, political leaders, business and trade associations, and important public and private companies.
The Eurasian Economic Forum is entering a new region, the Middle East, after 14 years in Verona and two years in Central Asia: issue XVII will be held in-person and streamed (forumverona.com) on Thursday, December 5 and Friday, December 6, 2024, in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, at the Al Hamra Convention Center. The Forum is organized by the Conoscere Eurasia Association in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the United Arab Emirates.
Baku (Azerbaijan) and Samarkand (Uzbekistan) opened the itinerant path of the Forum, in a constant search for entrepreneurial dialog in Greater Eurasia, in a geopolitical context that requires a frank, free, and open space for discussion. In a word: multipolarity. At a time when many are calling for a clash of civilizations, the Forum points to an alternative path, showing the widespread need for a plurality of views and a strong desire for integration. Also, in Ras Al Khaimah, the world of business and affairs will offer its diplomacy based on real economic and social needs, which takes into account the true needs of the people. Moreover, the synergy of economic and cultural diplomacy will continue in Ras Al Khaimah.
The United Arab Emirates represents an important partner for Italy, not only from an economic standpoint, for which it is the main supplier and first market in the MENA region, but also from a political standpoint, as a result of the constant dialog on bilateral issues and the dossier on regional and cultural security (the first Italian Cultural Institute in the Gulf region was inaugurated in Abu Dhabi).
The United Arab Emirates has an open and dynamic economy that has become one of the most developed in the Middle East in just a few decades. In 2023, Italy became the country’s ninth supplier
The country is one of the most important strategic hubs in the Middle East, East Africa, and South Asia, with an efficient infrastructure system, innovative warehousing platforms, an extensive road network, and impressive logistics infrastructure. In addition, 53 free trade zones have been established to attract companies from abroad, offering special tax and customs advantages. Recent strategies implemented by the government are aimed at reducing dependence on fossil resources, increasing the contribution of industry, and creating new businesses, combined with structural reforms to attract skilled labor.
With a population of around 11 million people and a steadily growing GDP (which has grown from €373 billion in 2019 to €456 billion in 2024 and is expected to increase by another 3.5% this year), the United Arab Emirates has an open and dynamic economy that has become one of the most developed in the Middle East in just a few decades. Last year, Italy was the country’s ninth supplier with a turnover of 8.8 billion euros (+9.5% compared to 8 billion in 2022), recording high growth values for both exports (6.6 billion, +10.9%) and imports (2.2 billion, +5.5%). The excellent state of economic relations between the two countries was also confirmed in the first half of last year, with trade, exports, and imports exceeding 20%. In 2023, Italy mainly sold to the United Arab Emirates jewelry and precious stones (16.4% of total exports), general machinery (about 12%), and clothing (5.8%). And metals, fuels, oil, and refined products were almost exclusively imported from the Emirates. More than 600 Italian companies operate in the country, mainly in the construction, energy, consumer, security/defense, banking/insurance, and aerospace sectors.
During the two-day Eurasian Economic Forum, CEOs of major companies, political and public figures, diplomats, experts, and journalists from the Emirates, Europe, Asia, and representatives of the Eurasian Economic Union will discuss opportunities to develop economic and trade cooperation in the context of Greater Eurasia. Day 1 (Thursday, December 5,2024) will focus on the role of the United Arab Emirates in promoting economic cooperation in the region; the relationship between energy and the environment; reflections on the relationship between regionalization and globalization; the key role of infrastructure and transport in global development and the Middle East region. The second day (Friday, December 6) will be dedicated to analyzing the evolution of the financial and banking markets; to the challenges posed by new technologies, from digitalization to medicine; the industrial revolution taking place in the manufacturing sector; food security and the fight against desertification; the importance of social development as a condition for a more inclusive economy.
The XVII Eurasian Economic Forum will conclude with events to promote “Made in Italy,” including an exhibition of Italian craftsmanship, as well as various cultural events, including: a classical music concert featuring tenor Vittorio Grigolo and Russian soprano Olga Peretyatko; a Film Festival dedicated to Italian and Russian cinema, created by the Association of New Italian Cinema Events (N. I.C.E.) in collaboration with the renowned Russian film studio Mosfilm, which will be attended by director and CEO Karen Shakhnazarov. The Forum will be held in Arabic, Italian, Russian, and English languages.
