Page 67 - INVESTOPIA ENGLISH PR REPORT FEBRUARY - MARCH 2025

pumping huge investments into green iron production. He also highlighted the multiple
partnerships the Bank has concluded with the UAE, including a partnership with the Ministry
of Economy to finance startups in the circular economy.

Massimo Mocio said: “The recent announcement by the UAE of its plans to invest $40 billion
in key sectors of the Italian economy and the recent MoU signed with Intesa Sanpaolo to
accelerate the UAE’s transition to a circular economy reflect the two countries’ shared
commitment to driving sustainable development and green economic growth. Intesa Sanpaolo
is committed to continue supporting the structuring and financing of local circular economy
projects, leveraging the €8 billion of circular credit provided for in the 2022-2025 Action Plan.”

Jonquil Hackenberg highlighted the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s strategy, which focuses on
the circular economy and sustainability, by supporting more than 200 companies involved in
circular models in various sectors, such as fashion, food, plastics and packaging industries,
among others, noting that the foundation has launched several initiatives in this direction,
including the “Food Challenge” initiative. It deals with technological agriculture, in which
more than 400 companies participated, meeting the criteria of environmental diversity, soil
quality and environmental sustainability.

Strategic partnership in economic diversification and business sustainability
Family offices participated in a panel discussion at Investopia 2025, titled "Family Businesses:
The Cornerstone of Economic Development". Khaled Al Fahim, Board Member of the Abu
Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Paul Desmarais III, Chairman and CEO of Sagard;
and Paulina Jakubec, Managing Director of the Jakubec Family Office Group.

The session focused on the role of family businesses in achieving economic stability and
sustainable development, especially with regard to developing emerging sectors such as
artificial intelligence, agricultural technology, and sustainable tourism, which makes them a
key driver of economic growth locally and globally. It reviewed the adoption of long-term
investment strategies by family businesses, which works to diversify their economies and
create flexibility in making investment decisions. The session also addressed the most
prominent challenges facing the continuity of family businesses across generations, stressing
the importance of good governance and strategic planning to ensure the sustainability of this
investment model.

Khaled Al Fahim highlighted the challenges of the third generation of family businesses, noting
that this generation usually faces differences and changes in ideas and business culture, and
that family business must keep pace with this change and develop its strategies and be more
flexible to be able to withstand pressures and continue to future generations.

Paulina Jakubec pointed to the challenges imposed by technology and artificial intelligence on
successive generations of family businesses, and noted the importance of achieving balance
and self-learning and continuous learning for family business owners, and transferring
experiences and integration between generations.

Growth and investment opportunities in small markets with strategic impact
A session was held with the participation of H.E. Giorgos Papanastasiou, Minister of Energy,
Trade and Industry of the Republic of Cyprus; and H.E. Frederic Genta, Minister in charge of