Page 193 - MOET ENGLISH PR REPORT - OCTOBER 2025 (Part 1)

11/3/25, 4:19 PM UAE hosts MENA-OECD Business Advisory Board meeting - Middle East Business News and Information - mid-east.info
opportunity to strengthen economic cooperation between MENA countries and the OECD. It
also reinforces the private sector’s role as a key partner in crafting policies that support

sustainable growth through dialogue between governments and business communities,
exploring shared priorities and designing practical initiatives aligned with global

transformations in innovation, trade, and investment.”

Discussion sessions with extensive global and regional participation:

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.

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