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3/5/24, 10:38 AM UAE aims to conclude more Cepas with African countries to boost trade ties
The Emirates has already completed talks with Kenya, Mauritius and the Republic of Congo and it
aims to conclude more deals with African countries, Juma Mohamed Al Kait, assistant undersecretary
for international trade affairs at the Ministry of Economy, said.

He spoke to The National on the sidelines of the World Trade Organisation’s 13th ministerial
conference in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

“More deals with African countries will increase the market and enlarge our Cepas in Africa,” Mr Al
Kait said.

“There are a number of agreements that will be announced down the road.”

Last week, the UAE and Kenya concluded negotiations for a Cepa in a milestone deal that will
provide further access to the high-growth country and expansion into sectors from food to
technology.

The two trading partners will seek to tap into opportunities in sectors including food production,
mining, technology and logistics, Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, said in a
post on X on Friday.

The pact comes after the UAE concluded the terms of a deal with
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UAE's non-oil foreign trade hit Mauritius and the Republic of Congo in December.
record $953bn in 2023 The UAE has already concluded Cepas with India, Israel, Indonesia,

UAE and Mauritius finalise terms of Turkey, Georgia, Cambodia, Colombia, South Korea and Costa Rica.
Cepa deal to boost trade and
investment ties “We have signed a number of Cepa agreements that have already
entered into force. Now we are doing an awareness campaign for the
private sector to utilise those agreements in the best way,” Mr Al Kait
said.

“Those agreements will not only benefit the private sector in the UAE but also the investors who
would like also to establish their businesses here and grow from [the] UAE to the region.”

He expressed optimism that member countries would iron out differences to finalise new agreements
during the WTO ministerial conference in Abu Dhabi.

"As a host, we will do our best to facilitate and to bring positions closer," Mr Al Kait said.

"The principle in this organisation is consensus. So, we want to make sure that everyone is included
in the discussion and also their concerns are covered and addressed in those agreements.”

During the conference, member countries are discussing WTO reforms, minimising agriculture and
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fisheries subsidies, and whether to extend the existing e-commerce moratorium, among others.

The UAE is providing a $10 million grant to support several crucial initiatives of the WTO, including
the Fisheries Funding Mechanism, the Enhanced Integrated Framework, and the Women Exporters in
the Digital Economy Fund.

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