UAE Joins BRICS in Launching Center for Industrial Skills in Partnership with UNIDO

The UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology joined BRICS counterparts on Friday in launching a Center for Industrial Skills in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to support the development of industrial skills and capabilities.

The announcement was made at the 8th BRICS Industry Ministers’ Meeting, which brought together industry, trade and technology ministries from the UAE, Russia, Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Iran and South Africa. The meeting will be held under the chairmanship of Russia under the theme “Strengthening Multilateralism for Equitable Global Development and Security”.

Partnerships will be encouraged within the New Industrial Revolution (NIR) framework to identify interests, challenges and opportunities in the rapidly evolving industrial landscape. Also, the Center aims to enable industry and develop the industrial skills of its members.
Omar Al Suwaidi, Under Secretary of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, appreciated Russia’s chairmanship of the meeting. “The BRICS countries represent 45 percent of the world’s population and account for nearly one-third of world GDP, representing a significant opportunity for cooperative industrial progress and sustainable development. The UAE is committed to strengthening ties with its global partners. Mutual economic opportunities, a key driver of sustainable development and food It is also a way to address major global challenges such as security and climate change.

The Ministry hopes to contribute to the working groups created under this partnership and bring its expertise to the table to develop and enable industrial growth for the mutual benefit of all members, he added.

The announcement included discussions on the creation of several working groups, including the chemical industry, metals, SMEs, smart manufacturing, clean technology and medical devices.

Under the declaration, members emphasize their commitment to cooperate on industrial policy in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure, including the implementation of green technologies.

In addition, the Declaration acknowledges the role of the PartNIR (Partnership for the New Industrial Revolution) Innovation Center, which focuses on policy coordination, personnel training and project development.

The center has organized events such as BRICS New Industrial Revolution Exhibition, BRICS Forum on PartNIR, BRICS Industrial Innovation Competition and BRICS Forum Future Network Innovation. The signatories also acknowledged the efforts of the BRICS Startup Forum in supporting the projects of startups that play a critical role in innovation and economic growth in the era of the new industrial revolution.

The meeting concluded with a review of agreements and decisions made at previous meetings to deepen BRICS cooperation in industrialization, innovation, inclusion and investment, including the Johannesburg II Declaration of 23 August 2023.

Delegates expressed support for Brazil to host the 9th BRICS Industry Ministers’ Meeting in 2025.

In August 2023, six new members were invited to join BRICS, including the UAE, which officially joined in January 2024. Projections suggest that BRICS could account for 45 percent of the global economy by 2040.