The first meeting of the I2U2 business forum takes place in Abu Dhabi.
On Wednesday, the first business forum held by the I2U2 (India-Israel-UAE-US) mechanism focused on possible partnerships in food security, energy, water, space, transportation, health, and technology.
At the I2U2 business forum, which was held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), senior business and government leaders from the four countries met to talk about ways that their businesses could work together.
This was the first event of its kind since the I2U2 grouping was officially launched at a summit of world leaders in July. The I2U2 group tries to get its members to work together economically in areas like food security, water, energy, space, transportation, health, and technology.
In seven parallel sessions about food security, energy, water, space, transportation, health, and technology, companies and private sector representatives at the business forum “exchanged ideas and talked about possible partnerships,” the ministry of external affairs said in a statement.
I2U2 wants to get money and knowledge from the private sector to help update infrastructure, reduce carbon emissions in industries, improve public health, and encourage the development of green technologies.
As part of these efforts, the UAE is looking into a possible $2 billion investment for integrated agricultural facilities across India and the development of a 300-MW wind and solar power plant in Gujarat.
UAE minister of state Ahmed Al Sayegh, US undersecretary of state Jose Fernandez, secretary (economic relations) Dammu Ravi of the external affairs ministry, Israel’s foreign ministry director general Ronen Levi, and Brett McGurk, the White House coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, all spoke at the I2U2 business forum.
The officials said they were still committed to improving economic cooperation under I2U2 and stressed how important it was for decision-makers and private sector stakeholders from the four countries to work together directly.
Ravi said that India was still committed to I2U2 and urged everyone involved to work towards making real progress in I2U2 projects, such as setting up an innovation centre in Gurugram.
In line with India’s LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) initiative, he asked I2U2 partners to work towards a lifestyle that is sustainable and good for the environment.
During the meeting, India joined the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate, which was started by the United Arab Emirates and the United States at COP26.
Officials said that this will make it easier for people to work together to find new ways to deal with climate change and improve food systems.
The goal of the I2U2 business forum is to make it a regular place for private and public organisations from the four countries to work together on economic and technological business projects.
