Page 140 - MOE ENGLISH PR REPORT - OCTOBER 2024

Dr. Ali bin Sebaa Al Marri, Executive President of MBRSG, emphasised their role in supporting the
UAE’s vision for a sustainable future. He noted that MBRSG aims to empower future leaders and
provide tools for informed decision-making. "The Global Conference on Economic Diversification –
the first in this annual series of events – fulfils both of these objectives," he explained.

The first day featured several keynote speeches and panel discussions. Prof. Cesar Hidalgo from
Toulouse School of Economics delivered a keynote on economic diversification and complexity. A
panel titled ‘Economic Diversification Pathways in the Gulf Region’ followed, discussing strategies
for reducing fossil fuel dependence.

The panel included Tariq Rashid Al Suwaidi from the UAE Ministry of Economy and Dr. Al Moatasim
Al Yaaqubi from Oman’s National Programme for Economic Diversification (Tanweea). Dr. Jarmo
Kotilaine from Bahrain EDB and Dr. Vito Intini from UNDP also participated, with Dr. Khalid Al
Wazani moderating.

Global Perspectives on Challenges
A session titled ‘Global Reflections on the Challenges of Economic Diversification’ explored global
perspectives amid changing landscapes. Moderated by Dr. Nasser Saidi, it featured experts like Dr.
Jihad Azour from IMF and Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin from UN 2030 Agenda.

Dr. Clovis Freire Jr., Chief at UNCTAD, and Dr. Youness Abouyoub from UN ESCWA also contributed
insights into economic diversification challenges globally.

Research Sessions and Policy Discussions
The agenda included research paper sessions covering topics like AI's role in economic
diversification and legalising informal sectors for growth. Other discussions focused on
institutional quality, commodity dependence, and decarbonisation in oil-producing nations.

A Closed Policy Council addressed data-driven policy advancements in measuring global
economic diversification, involving policymakers and academics discussing practical measures
and challenges.

The conference continues with more closed panel discussions on its second day, further exploring
these crucial themes with global experts.

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