Abu Dhabi Chamber Hosts Brisbane Forum To Strengthen Economic Cooperation With Australia
The Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently hosted the Brisbane Forum for Networking and Economic Partnerships. This event brought together a significant economic delegation from Brisbane, Australia, along with representatives from government entities and the business community in Abu Dhabi. The forum aimed to enhance Abu Dhabi's global economic presence and strengthen ties with international markets.
Australia is a key trading partner for the UAE in the Asia-Pacific region. Economic relations between the two countries have seen substantial growth recently. In the first half of 2025, bilateral non-oil trade rose by 33.4% compared to the same period in 2024, reaching US$3 billion. With the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) now active, trade is expected to grow from US$4.2 billion in 2024 to over US$10 billion by 2032.
The Australian delegation was led by Councillor Fiona Cunningham, Deputy Mayor of Brisbane and Civic Cabinet Chair for Finance and City Governance. She was joined by over 40 representatives from Brisbane's business and government sectors. This collaboration aims to foster stronger economic partnerships between Abu Dhabi and Brisbane.
Dr. Ali bin Harmal Al Dhaheri, First Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Chamber, stated, "This forum reflects the depth of relations between Abu Dhabi and Australia and reaffirms our ongoing commitment to fostering collaboration with Brisbane as a promising economic hub in the region." He highlighted that this meeting opens new opportunities for private-sector partnerships in both countries.
The forum included interactive sessions and direct meetings between Emirati and Australian companies. These discussions focused on cooperation opportunities in sectors like industry, clean energy, advanced technology, infrastructure, and tourism. Such interactions are crucial for promoting bilateral investment and facilitating smoother trade flows between both sides.
Deputy Mayor Fiona Cunningham emphasised how important this forum is for improving communication channels between business communities in Abu Dhabi and Brisbane. The event allowed participants to exchange insights on mechanisms that can enhance bilateral investments.
This initiative underscores a shared commitment to building a diversified economy based on innovation and knowledge exchange. By fostering collaboration with dynamic international markets like Brisbane, Abu Dhabi aims to reinforce its position as a global economic player.
With inputs from WAM
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