UAE and UNIDO Launch Center for Industrial Skills at BRICS Meeting

The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology have partnered to build a Centre for Industrial Skills. The program seeks to improve industrial skills and capacities among the BRICS nations. At the 8th BRICS Industry Ministers’ Meeting, which included the ministers of industry, commerce, and technology from the United Arab Emirates, Russia, Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Iran, and South Africa, the announcement was made. Russia chaired the meeting on “Strengthening Multilateralism for Equitable Global Development and Security”.

The newly established Center for Industrial Skills will promote partnerships within the framework of the New Industrial Revolution (NIR). It aims to identify shared interests, challenges and opportunities in a rapidly changing industrial landscape. The objective of the center is to help BRICS countries develop their industrial skills and enable progress in various industrial sectors.

During the meeting, Omar Al Suwaidi, the Under-Secretary of the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, commended Russia’s leadership. He emphasised the significance of the BRICS group, which accounts for roughly a third of the global GDP and around 45% of the world’s population. Al Suwaidi highlighted the UAE’s dedication to forging closer connections with international allies in order to foster reciprocal economic prospects. He emphasised the need of this collaboration for tackling global issues including food security and climate change as well as sustainable development..

Al Suwaidi expressed the UAE’s keenness to contribute to the working groups formed under this partnership. These groups will focus on various sectors, including the chemical industry, metals, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), smart manufacturing, clean technology and medical devices.

The declaration from the meeting reaffirmed the commitment of members to cooperate on industrial policy to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 9, which focuses on industry, innovation and infrastructure, including the adoption of green technologies.

The announcement also acknowledged the role of the PartNIR (Partnership on the New Industrial Revolution) Innovation Centre. The center is dedicated to policy coordination, personnel training and project development. It has hosted various events including BRICS New Industrial Revolution Exhibition, BRICS Forum on PartNIR, BRICS Industrial Innovation Competition and BRICS Forum Future Networks Innovation. The BRICS Startup Forum’s efforts to support startups promoting innovation and economic growth during the NIR era were also acknowledged.

The meeting concluded with a review of past agreements and decisions aimed at deepening BRICS cooperation in industrialization, innovation, inclusion and investment. This includes the Johannesburg II Declaration adopted on 23 August 2023. Delegates also expressed support for Brazil hosting the 9th BRICS Industry Ministers’ Meeting in 2025.

Notably, six new members, including the UAE, have been invited to join BRICS in August 2023. The UAE officially became a member in January 2024. By 2040, BRICS is predicted to account for 45 percent of the global economy.