Abu Dhabi-Singapore Joint Forum: Strengthening Ties and Exploring New Opportunities
The 15th session of the Abu Dhabi-Singapore Joint Forum (ADSJF) took place in Singapore, co-chaired by Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority, and Dr. Tan See Leng, Singapore’s Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry. The event was attended by ambassadors and senior representatives from both countries.
This forum was part of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi’s official visit to Singapore. Discussions focused on enhancing existing cooperation and exploring new areas of mutual interest. The UAE remains Singapore’s largest trading partner in the Middle East, with non-oil trade reaching USD 5.8 billion in 2023.
Key areas of collaboration include financial services, fintech, green economy, food security, water scarcity, government services, space, technology, and peaceful nuclear energy. Al Mubarak emphasized the forum’s role in strengthening bilateral ties, while Dr. Tan highlighted the forum’s importance since its inception in 2008.
The forum also addressed global water scarcity, introducing the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative (MBZWI), aimed at tackling this challenge through innovative technologies. For over 39 years, the UAE and Singapore have maintained a strong bilateral relationship, supported by trade, investment, and strategic cooperation.
Doubts Revealed
Abu Dhabi -: Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a country in the Middle East. It is known for its modern architecture and rich culture.
Singapore -: Singapore is a small island city-state in Southeast Asia. It is known for its cleanliness, advanced technology, and as a global financial hub.
Joint Forum -: A Joint Forum is a meeting where representatives from two different places come together to discuss and work on common interests and goals.
Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak -: Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak is a prominent businessman from the UAE. He is involved in various important projects and discussions between countries.
Dr. Tan See Leng -: Dr. Tan See Leng is a government official from Singapore. He helps in making important decisions for the country, especially in international relations.
Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan -: Sheikh Khaled is a member of the ruling family in the UAE. He plays a significant role in strengthening relationships with other countries.
Fintech -: Fintech stands for Financial Technology. It refers to new technology that helps improve and automate financial services, like online banking and digital payments.
Green economy -: A green economy is an economy that aims to reduce environmental risks and ecological scarcities. It focuses on sustainable development without harming the environment.
Water scarcity -: Water scarcity means there is not enough water available to meet the needs of people and the environment. It is a big problem in many parts of the world.
Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative -: This is a project started by the UAE to find new ways to provide clean and safe water to people, especially in areas where water is scarce.