The UAE and Ukraine have taken a significant step towards deepening economic cooperation with a high-level business roundtable hosted by Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade.
The meeting, attended by UAE officials, business leaders, and investment groups, featured a high-ranking Ukrainian delegation led by Yuliia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy.
The discussions focused on leveraging the recently signed UAE-Ukraine Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which aims to enhance bilateral trade and investment flows. Signed in the presence of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the agreement is projected to contribute approximately US$369 million to the UAE’s GDP and US$874 million to Ukraine’s GDP by 2031.
Dr. Al Zeyoudi highlighted the CEPA’s broad scope, stating,
“This roundtable not only demonstrates our commitment to enhancing economic ties with Ukraine but will also accelerate the mutual benefits that our newly signed CEPA offers. Designed to be broad-based, the CEPA opens opportunities for strategic investments across vital sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture, and technology, while enabling start-ups and promoting knowledge exchange.”
Yuliia Svyrydenko underscored the significance of the agreement, emphasizing that it marks a new era of collaboration. She highlighted key sectors poised for growth, including energy, logistics, healthcare, and manufacturing, while stressing the pivotal role of the private sector in advancing trade relations.
The roundtable identified infrastructure development, food security, and state-owned enterprise privatization as priority investment areas. Additionally, discussions highlighted logistics and transport projects requiring substantial capital, particularly in roads, ports, and airports.
Building on the CEPA and the 28 Memoranda of Understanding signed in 2021, valued at over US$3 billion, the roundtable reaffirmed the UAE and Ukraine’s commitment to fostering long-term economic collaboration and mutual growth.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
