Page 189 - MOET ENGLISH PR REPORT - OCTOBER 2025 (Part 1)

11/3/25, 4:18 PM UAE hosts MENA-OECD Business Advisory Board meeting
The meeting featured six panel sessions with extensive participation from the Ministry of Economy and
Tourism, the OECD, and specialised experts in the fields of economy, entrepreneurship, agriculture,
technology, innovation and logistics.

The first panel, “Connecting Physical and Digital Infrastructures”, discussed the significance of

interconnected infrastructure networks in enhancing regional economic integration, including transport,
energy and digital connectivity, and their pivotal role in lowering trade costs, improving logistics
performance and supporting knowledge exchange. It further highlighted the position of the UAE and
Saudi Arabia as global logistics and investment hubs.

The second panel, titled “Connecting Markets: Trade, Investment and Regulatory Convergence”,
highlighted how infrastructure can be transformed into a competitive edge. This requires linking markets
across borders, including attracting investment into local value chains, reducing barriers in trade and
customs, and harmonising regulations that create conditions for free zones and logistics to drive
economic growth.

The third panel, “Connecting People and Ideas: Cross Border Innovation Ecosystems”, focused on the
role of governments in reducing barriers to mobility and fostering regional innovation platforms that
contribute to building dynamic innovation ecosystems that generate new jobs and support sustainable
growth. This can be achieved through effective partnerships with universities and business incubators,

research and business collaboration, R&D investment and innovation activities.

The fourth panel, “Sustainable Tourism: Developing High-Value Strategies for Diversification”, explored
the opportunities in the tourism sector that can contribute to the growth and diversification of regional
and global economies, creating innovative sustainable models and strategic public–private tourism
partnerships. It focused on investment in digitalisation and skills development to strengthen tourism’s

contribution to sustainable economic development.

The fifth panel, “SMEs and Entrepreneurship: Scaling Opportunities for Inclusive Growth”, focused on
the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to generate jobs, drive innovation and boost
productivity across various economic and investment sectors. Serving as the backbone of the global

economy, SMEs can scale, compete and expand into regional and global markets.

Finally, the sixth panel, “Agribusiness: Supporting Innovation and Regional Cooperation”, explored the
impact of climate risks and resource scarcity on the agricultural sector. It focused on strengthening
cooperation with governments, the private sector and research institutions related to food-systems in
fields of climate smart innovation, digital technologies, and supporting the growth of this critical sector

globally.

For further information, please contact:
Orient Planet Group (OPG)

https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/government-news/uae-hosts-mena-oecd-business-advisory-board-meeting-gdewu2rq 4/5