Abu Dhabi is set to host the first energy ministerial of South American and Arab countries (Aspa) on January 16 as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week thus underscoring the UAE capital’s leadership on clean energy.

The key energy meet is being held in partnership with the Arab League and the Union of South American Nations, said the Directorate of Energy and Climate Change at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The meeting will feature leading representatives from the Arab Countries and South American Countries (like Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Uruguay) and focus on investment opportunities in the conventional and alternative energy sectors, along with other areas of co-operation.

The conference is an outgrowth of the Aspa summits of heads of state and government in Doha in 2009 and Lima in 2012. The summits identified energy as the backbone for Arab and South American dialogue and collaboration.

“Energy is the foundational sector for development, and both South American and Arab countries will see explosive energy market growth rates in the next 20 years, led by renewable energy deployment,” remarked Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, the UAE special envoy of Energy and Climate Change and CEO of Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s multi-faceted renewable energy company.

"Given our commonalities in resource development potential, this inaugural ministerial will identify the investments, policies, R&D, data, and co-operation that South American and Arab countries need in order to leverage their endowments for sustainable development," he stated.

“Synchronising the ministerial with Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week creates an exceptional opportunity to enhance regional cooperation. During this week, the UAE will host the world’s top political and business leaders, policymakers, and experts in energy, water and sustainable development," Dr. Al Jaber noted.

"We will draw on a tremendous pool of ideas and individuals to design and drive our partnership," he added.

Taking place from January 13 to 17, the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week will attract an anticipated 30,000 participants from 150 countries to Abu Dhabi for what will be the largest gathering on sustainability in the history of the Middle East.

It will also offer a global platform not only to highlight the activities of participating governments, businesses and organisations, but to strengthen co-operation in the move towards sustainable development, focusing on the interconnected challenges of energy and water.

Its activities will include the general assembly of International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena), the World Future Energy Summit, the International Water Summit, the Abu Dhabi International Renewable Energy Conference, the Zayed Future Energy Prize award ceremony and the inaugural energy ministerial of Aspa.-TradeArabia News Service