Page 65 - INVESTOPIA ENGLISH PR REPORT FEBRUARY - MARCH 2025

The panels tackled several key topics, most notably the latest global and local trends in the
fields of circular economy, family offices, innovation and entrepreneurship, in addition to
sustainable investment strategies. They highlighted the importance of adopting innovative
economic models, achieving integration between the public and private sectors and
strengthening strategic partnerships to address current environmental and economic challenges,
while highlighting the UAE's experience in reducing waste and enhancing sustainability and
resource efficiency.

Diversifying strategies and policies to face economic crises

Day two agenda of Investopia Dialogues included a session titled "Black Swans and Grey
Swans: Policies and Strategies in an Uncertain World", in which His Excellency Abdulla bin
Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of Investopia; and His Excellency Jean-
Pierre Raffarin, former French Prime Minister, shared their views. The session focused on how
governments and the private sector deal with unexpected events that have a high impact on the
global economy.

During the session, H.E. Bin Touq spoke about the unexpected challenges that could affect the
global economic landscape, including geopolitical risks, such as tensions between China and
Taiwan, and the effects of advanced technology and new artificial intelligence applications. He
emphasized the importance of economies adapting and raising their readiness to face such
developments and challenges through agility, economic diversification, supporting emerging
and new sectors, and stimulating innovation. His Excellency said: "Many of these risks and
challenges may turn into opportunities if a proactive vision is adopted and flexible economic
policies that anticipate future trends are developed."

In the same context, His Excellency Bin Touq highlighted the importance of developing
strategies to deal with crises and pandemics that can lead to severe and sudden economic
impacts. He added that knowledge on best methodologies to deal with such crises, especially
by enhancing the flexibility of trade and supply chains in light of crises and pandemics, is key.
The capabilities of governments, and business sectors to face such challenges should be
enhanced through financial flexibility and sound economic knowledge.

His Excellency also pointed out the importance of international cooperation and the exchange
of knowledge and best practices in dealing with the impact of the global debt crisis that affects
the global economic reality. His Excellency said: "In order to reduce inflation, interest rates
were raised, and this trend has a negative impact on the private sector, which is already
suffering from a lot of debt. It is important to work on reducing interest rates over the next few
years to provide greater opportunities and capabilities for the growth of the private sector and
business communities."

Meanwhile, His Excellency Raffarin touched upon the tensions witnessed by the global
economy today resulting from geopolitical and economic risks and variables, including the war
in Europe, the new tariffs announced by the new US administration, and Chinese economic
policies, noting that many of today’s challenges cannot be predicted. His Excellency explained
the importance of openness and cooperation to establish new regulatory frameworks for trade
and investment, and the importance of working with the United States and China in this
direction. His Excellency underlined the importance of focusing on climate change,
environmental protection and sustainable development paths as international commonalities