Latest news with #ComprehensiveStrategicEnergyPartnership
TAG 91.1
25-04-2025
- Business
- TAG 91.1
UAE, France focus on boosting bilateral ties
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, has focused on strengthening bilateral ties with France during talks with the country's Foreign Affairs minister Jean-Noël Barrot. During a meeting in Abu Dhabi, the two sides discussed ways to enhance strategic relations across various fields. His Highness welcomed Jean-Noël Barrot and highlighted the deep historical ties shared between the countries. The ministers also discussed the overall development in the region, as well as regional and international updates, national news agency Wam reported. The meeting comes months after President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held talks with French leader Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris. The talks focused on ways to expand bilateral cooperation, particularly in the economic, investment, and cultural fields. The two sides also addressed ways to deepen collaboration in climate action, energy, advanced technology, artificial intelligence, and other areas aligned with their shared vision for sustainable development and prosperity. The two countries have maintained a Comprehensive Strategic Energy Partnership since 2022 and launched the UAE-France Bilateral Climate Investment Platform in 2024.
Trade Arabia
27-03-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
French firms eye Gulf's $1.68bn smart grid by 2026
France will take center stage at Middle East Energy 2025, one of the region's influential trade events dedicated to the global energy industry, from April 7 to 9, 2025. With a French Fab pavilion hosting 19 companies, France will present concrete solutions tailored to the modernization, security, and sustainability needs of today's energy infrastructure. This participation, organized by Business France, reflects France's long-standing industrial expertise and commitment to supporting the Gulf region's energy transition, in alignment with the UAE's ambitions for sustainable development and infrastructure modernization. Major Opportunities and Strategic Investments to Support Energy Transition To meet the growing energy demand, Gulf countries plan to increase their installed capacity through massive investments in new electrical infrastructure. Among the most significant projects, the electrical interconnection between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Oman represents a major step forward. With a budget exceeding $700 million, this project aims to directly connect the GCC's interconnected grid to Oman, ensuring increased transmission capacity and reduced operational costs. On the other hand, the smart grid market is rapidly expanding and is expected to reach $1.68 billion by 2026 in the Gulf region. At the same time, the development of renewable energy, energy consumption optimization, and the construction of sustainable cities have become top priorities across the region. These developments present major new opportunities for French companies, whose expertise in these key sectors is widely recognised. France - UAE: A Strategic and sustainable Energy Partnership Both countries are entering a new phase of their strategic alliance, following high-level visits in early 2025: The visit of H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to Paris last February, 2025 The official visit of Laurent Saint-Martin, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad, to the UAE on February 20–21, 2025 These diplomatic milestones reinforced the Comprehensive Strategic Energy Partnership launched in 2022 and gave fresh momentum to bilateral cooperation in energy, trade, and innovation. A cornerstone of this partnership is the agreement between Masdar (UAE) and TotalEnergies (France) to accelerate access to clean energy in Southeast Asia and Africa, an initiative underscoring both countries' shared vision for global sustainable development. With bilateral trade reaching €8.5 billion in 2024, the UAE remains France's top trading partner in the MENA region. Energy remains a key pillar of this dynamic relationship, supported by growing collaboration across new sectors including AI, smart mobility, and green hydrogen. French Delegation: Tailored Solutions for Energy Challenges As energy systems in the MENA region evolve, the French Pavilion will spotlight innovative and resilient solutions designed to support the shift towards secure, digital, and low-carbon infrastructures. Key areas of expertise include: With solutions aligned to the region's most urgent priorities such as grid resilience, energy efficiency, renewables integration, and smart city development, the French delegation stands ready to contribute to the GCC's long-term energy goals. -TradeArabia News Service
Zawya
27-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
French firms eye Gulf's $1.68bln smart grid by 2026
France will take center stage at Middle East Energy 2025, one of the region's influential trade events dedicated to the global energy industry, from April 7 to 9, 2025. With a French Fab pavilion hosting 19 companies, France will present concrete solutions tailored to the modernization, security, and sustainability needs of today's energy infrastructure. This participation, organized by Business France, reflects France's long-standing industrial expertise and commitment to supporting the Gulf region's energy transition, in alignment with the UAE's ambitions for sustainable development and infrastructure modernization. Major Opportunities and Strategic Investments to Support Energy Transition To meet the growing energy demand, Gulf countries plan to increase their installed capacity through massive investments in new electrical infrastructure. Among the most significant projects, the electrical interconnection between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Oman represents a major step forward. With a budget exceeding $700 million, this project aims to directly connect the GCC's interconnected grid to Oman, ensuring increased transmission capacity and reduced operational costs. On the other hand, the smart grid market is rapidly expanding and is expected to reach $1.68 billion by 2026 in the Gulf region. At the same time, the development of renewable energy, energy consumption optimization, and the construction of sustainable cities have become top priorities across the region. These developments present major new opportunities for French companies, whose expertise in these key sectors is widely recognised. France - UAE: A Strategic and sustainable Energy Partnership Both countries are entering a new phase of their strategic alliance, following high-level visits in early 2025: The visit of H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to Paris last February, 2025 The official visit of Laurent Saint-Martin, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad, to the UAE on February 20–21, 2025 These diplomatic milestones reinforced the Comprehensive Strategic Energy Partnership launched in 2022 and gave fresh momentum to bilateral cooperation in energy, trade, and innovation. A cornerstone of this partnership is the agreement between Masdar (UAE) and TotalEnergies (France) to accelerate access to clean energy in Southeast Asia and Africa, an initiative underscoring both countries' shared vision for global sustainable development. With bilateral trade reaching €8.5 billion in 2024, the UAE remains France's top trading partner in the MENA region. Energy remains a key pillar of this dynamic relationship, supported by growing collaboration across new sectors including AI, smart mobility, and green hydrogen. French Delegation: Tailored Solutions for Energy Challenges As energy systems in the MENA region evolve, the French Pavilion will spotlight innovative and resilient solutions designed to support the shift towards secure, digital, and low-carbon infrastructures. Key areas of expertise include: Surge and lightning protection: France Paratonnerres, Indelec, CITEL-2CP Power continuity and quality: Infosec UPS System, EnerSys, RS Isolsec Energy measurement and digital supervision: Chauvin Arnoux Energy, CODRA Industrial electrification and smart connectivity: Marechal Electric, Michaud Export, Niled Marking and lighting for critical infrastructure: CITEL-2CP, OBSTA With solutions aligned to the region's most urgent priorities such as grid resilience, energy efficiency, renewables integration, and smart city development, the French delegation stands ready to contribute to the GCC's long-term energy goals. -TradeArabia News Service Copyright 2024 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Gulf Today
08-02-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
UAE, French Presidents discuss bilateral ties in Paris, witness the signing of Framework for Cooperation in AI
President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and President Emmanuel Macron of France explored various aspects of the longstanding and strategic partnership between the two countries and discussed opportunities to expand bilateral cooperation, particularly in the economic, investment, and cultural fields. The two sides also addressed ways to deepen collaboration in climate action, energy, advanced technology, artificial intelligence, and other areas aligned with their shared vision for sustainable development and prosperity. During their meeting at the Élysée Palace, His Excellency President Macron welcomed His Highness the President and expressed his pleasure at hosting him in France. His Highness, in turn, thanked President Macron for the warm reception. The two leaders discussed regional and international developments, exchanging views on key issues and reaffirming their commitment to continued dialogue and collaboration. They underscored the importance of working together to advance peace and stability in the Middle East and beyond while addressing pressing global challenges. Commenting on the strong ties between the UAE and France, Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan highlighted their constructive collaboration across multiple sectors, particularly in energy and climate action. He noted that the two nations have maintained a Comprehensive Strategic Energy Partnership since 2022 and launched the UAE-France Bilateral Climate Investment Platform last year. Furthermore, His Highness noted that the two countries share a commitment to the responsible use of artificial intelligence for global development, as well as cooperation in the protection of world heritage and other areas of mutual interest. Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed and President Macron also attended the signing ceremony of the UAE-France Framework for Cooperation in Artificial Intelligence, signed on behalf of the UAE by Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority, member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, and member of the Abu Dhabi Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology Council, and on behalf of France by Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and His Excellency Éric Lombard, Minister for the Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty. The UAE and French Presidents reviewed collaboration under the joint UAE-France Framework Agreement, targeting investment in a 1GW AI Campus in France. The two leaders underlined their intent to create a strategic AI partnership and emphasised their commitment to exploring collaboration on projects and investments that support the development of the AI value chain, including investment in UAE and French AI, leading edge chips offtake, data centre infrastructure andtalent development, and by establishing Virtual Data Embassies to enable sovereign AI and cloud infrastructure in both countries. The broad scope of activities and the size of infrastructure development envisioned under the UAE-France Framework Agreement for Cooperation in Artificial Intelligence highlight the strength and dynamism of the relationship between the UAE and France. The two leaders agreed to closely monitor the development of various AI cooperation projects in the coming period. President Macron hosted a dinner in honour of His Highness the President and the accompanying delegation. Earlier, His Highness arrived in Paris for a working visit, accompanied by a delegation including Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs; Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Advisor to UAE President; Ali bin Hammad Al Shamsi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for National Security; Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology; Faisal Al Bannai, Advisor to the UAE President for Strategic Research and Advanced Technology Affairs; Dr. Ahmed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the President's Office for Strategic Affairs and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office; Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority; and Fahad Saeed Al Raqbani, UAE Ambassador to the French Republic. The meeting was also attended by several French ministers and senior officials.
Dubai Eye
07-02-2025
- Business
- Dubai Eye
UAE President in France for President Macron meeting
President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has met with President Emmanuel Macron in France to discuss opportunities to expand bilateral cooperation, particularly in the economic, investment, and cultural fields. The two sides also addressed ways to deepen collaboration in climate action, energy, advanced technology, artificial intelligence, and other areas aligned with their shared vision for sustainable development and prosperity. During their meeting at the Élysée Palace, in Paris, the two leaders discussed regional and international developments, and exchanged views on key issues while reaffirming their commitment to continued dialogue and collaboration. Commenting on the strong ties between the UAE and France, Sheikh Mohamed highlighted their constructive collaboration across multiple sectors, particularly in energy and climate action. He noted that the two nations have maintained a Comprehensive Strategic Energy Partnership since 2022 and launched the UAE-France Bilateral Climate Investment Platform last year. His Highness also noted that the two countries share a commitment to the responsible use of artificial intelligence for global development, as well as cooperation in the protection of world heritage and other areas of mutual interest. The two leaders also attended the signing ceremony of the UAE-France Framework for Cooperation in Artificial Intelligence, signed on behalf of the UAE by the Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority, Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, and member of the Abu Dhabi Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology Council, and on behalf of France by Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, and the Minister for the Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, Éric Lombard. Both presidents reviewed collaboration under the joint UAE-France Framework Agreement, targeting investment in a 1GW AI Campus in France and underlined their intent to create a strategic AI partnership and emphasised their commitment to exploring collaboration on projects and investments that support the development of the AI value chain, including investment in UAE and French AI, leading edge chips offtake, data centre infrastructure and talent development, and by establishing Virtual Data Embassies to enable sovereign AI and cloud infrastructure in both countries. The broad scope of activities and the size of infrastructure development envisioned under the UAE-France Framework Agreement for Cooperation in Artificial Intelligence highlight the strength and dynamism of the relationship between the UAE and France. The two leaders agreed to closely monitor the development of various AI cooperation projects in the coming period.
