Industry leaders will discuss issues related to clean energy adoption in the Mena region at a key meeting hosted by UAE's Clean Energy Business Council (CEBC) in Dubai this week.

This year's CEBC Annual Event is to be held under the theme 'Mena - The Clean Energy Upstart? Challenges, Innovation, Unlimited Potential,' on November 14 at Dusit Thani Hotel.

"There is great excitement among clean energy players about the Mena region's potential to become a world leader in clean energy development and adoption," said Dr Nasser H Saidi, chairman of CEBC.

"Of all the global regions, Mena is the one that has the greatest potential for growth. We are seeing increased investment, favourable policy creation and implementation and enhanced development. It is an exciting time to be involved in the Mena clean energy industry."

The event will convene industry leaders and policy makers, providing a platform for discussion on the state of the clean energy industry across the Mena region, their achievements thus far, and the next steps required for further development of the sector.

There will be a focus on energy and water efficiency, financing mechanisms and the social impacts of clean energy in the region, with key public and private sector stakeholders from across the region in attendance.

As an example of the valuable research undertaken by CEBC and its members, CEBC member EY will launch their annual EY Mena Cleantech Survey 2013 in conjunction with this year's Annual Event. The report will highlight the firm's key findings across the sector.

Nimer Abu Ali, Mena head of Cleantech, EY, said: "Governments in Mena have recognized that the long term sustainability of their economies and their resources can be improved by diversifying the sources of energy and include alternative energies and investment in energy efficiency.”

“Saudi Arabia and UAE have been leading the renewables agenda in the region. Morocco has also, in the last year, seen significant progress in this direction. However, the inadequacy of policy frameworks and regulations in the region as a whole continue to be the main obstacles to the development of the industry,” Ali added.

As part of CEBC's emphasis on social development, especially the development of the small and medium enterprise sector, the Annual Event will also feature CEBC Connections, a unique opportunity for up and coming clean energy entrepreneurs in the Mena region to gain valuable insight and attention from investors.

Selected applicants will be able to pitch their clean energy project and start-up concepts to conference participants and key investors.  CEBC Connections will give promising clean energy ventures a chance to turn vision into reality.

With over 100 projects under development across the Mena region, and with countries such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt looking to generate 20 per cent of their power from renewable sources by 2020, and Morocco aiming for the even more ambitious 42 per cent figure by 2020, the region's clean energy future looks bright, said Dr Saidi.

"As the only NGO to cover clean energy across the Mena region, CEBC is able to see the wider picture, and the developments we are seeing are very exciting. Mena's time has come," added Dr Saidi. – TradeArabia News Service