Page 70 - ECI PR REPORT JANUARY 2025

1/28/25, 2:39 PM Etihad Credit Insurance hosts a workshop for companies selected to join Xport Xponential initiative - Middle East Business News a…
In her remarks, Her Excellency noted that the directives of the wise leadership and the UAE’s
national development strategies serve as roadmap for the Xport Xponential initiative. The

initiative’s goals, she noted, align with the economic objectives of the ‘We the UAE 2031’
vision, which aims to raise the GDP to AED 3 trillion, increase non-oil exports to AED 800

billion, and raise the value of the foreign trade to AED 4 trillion within the next decade. H.E. Al
Mazrouei concluded by reiterating ECI’s steadfast commitment to raising the competitiveness of

domestic non-oil goods, which will help diversify the UAE economy and strengthen its
competitive edge at both regional and global levels.

As the workshop progressed, Dr. Yasar Jarrar, Managing Partner, Gov Campus, Author, and
Professor (Hult International Business School), spoke about the growth trajectory of small and

medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UAE. Followed by a presentation from Mahesh Kumar,
Vice President of Trade Finance at Emirates Development Bank (EDB), who delivered a session

titled, ‘Trade And Working Capital Products – Value Proposition.’

During a virtual session, Haitham Al Khazaleh, Head Middle East and Africa, Director Public
Sector Solutions at Swiss Re Management Ltd., highlighted the role of re-insurance supporting

Export Credit Agencies. This was followed by a session on risk assessment of key export
markets, during which Robert Besseling, CEO and Founder of PANGEA-RISK, shared insights on
the Export Opportunity for the UAE.

The sessions proceeded with Andreas Klasen, Strategy Advisor and Professor of International

Business at Oxford HRA, addressing the audience about the importance of empowering global
trade, and the role of ECAs in sustainable export growth.

Shaima Alaydarous, Director of Negotiations and International Organizations Department at the

Ministry of Economy, led a strategic discussion about the importance of Comprehensive
Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) in supporting exporters and importers in the UAE
market, as well as strengthening the UAE’s trade relations with key regional and global

markets. Meanwhile, Thuraiya Hamid Alhashmi, Director of International Financial Relations
and Organizations at the Ministry of Finance, pointed out the significance of Bilateral

Investment Treaties, followed by a session on the legal aspects of trade, where Michael Morris,
Partner at Clyde and Co. and Rebekah Jones, Senior Associate at Clyde and Co. discussed the

legal challenges affecting international trade. In addition, Christopher Hanning, Head of Trade
Asset Distribution at DP World Trade Finance, led a session titled ‘Bridging the Trade Finance

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