Noura Al Kaabi Participates In CAF International Economic Forum In Panama To Expand UAE-LAC Cooperation

Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of State, represented the UAE at the International Economic Forum in Panama City, organised by the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean. The agenda focused on climate action, energy transition, and economic partnerships, with discussions aimed at strengthening UAE-Latin America and Caribbean economic cooperation over the coming decade.

During the International Economic Forum, Al Kaabi held several high-level bilateral and multilateral meetings that advanced UAE-Latin America and Caribbean economic cooperation priorities. Discussions centred on structured partnerships, practical delivery frameworks, and long-term growth, reflecting the UAE’s wider engagement strategy with regional and international institutions.

Al Kaabi met Albert Ramdin, Secretary General of the Organisation of American States; Carlos Hoyos, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama; Javier Gimenez, Minister of Industry and Commerce of the Republic of Paraguay; Natalia Bayona, United Nations Tourism Executive Director; and representatives from the National Confederation of Industry of Brazil, underlining the geographic and institutional breadth of UAE-Latin America and Caribbean economic cooperation.

In talks with Caribbean counterparts, Al Kaabi outlined further areas for UAE-Latin America and Caribbean economic cooperation, including digital transformation, cybersecurity, agriculture, trade and investment, energy and renewables, and infrastructure development. These themes aligned with broader regional development agendas and the UAE’s emphasis on technology-enabled growth and resilient cross-border value chains.

Across her meetings, Al Kaabi stressed that engagement should move from occasional contact toward structured, predictable, and results-focused collaboration. She highlighted sustainable energy, infrastructure connectivity, digital transformation, and innovation-led development as core pillars for UAE-Latin America and Caribbean economic cooperation, to ensure projects deliver measurable outcomes and shared prosperity.

UAE-Latin America economic cooperation: financing and long-term frameworks

Al Kaabi also drew attention to the UAE’s experience in mobilising finance for large-scale projects that support economic resilience, reinforce regional value chains, and speed up long-term development. She underlined the need for scalable cooperation frameworks within UAE-Latin America and Caribbean economic cooperation, designed to secure durable impact and inclusive growth over the next ten years.

The forum, which gathered more than 2,500 leaders, served as a platform to align the UAE’s strategic interests with Latin American and Caribbean partners on climate change responses, energy transition solutions, and innovation-led economic models. Al Kaabi’s participation reflected a sustained commitment to deeper UAE-Latin America and Caribbean economic cooperation at both bilateral and multilateral levels.

These engagements helped define initial concepts for future strategic projects linking the UAE with Latin America and the Caribbean, particularly in green energy, connectivity, and digital infrastructure. Al Kaabi was accompanied by Omar Shehadeh, Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Caribbean and Pacific States, supporting continuity in UAE-Latin America and Caribbean economic cooperation efforts.

With inputs from WAM