UAE Engages In 5th North Bund Forum To Promote Green Shipping Initiatives

The United Arab Emirates, through the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI), took part in the 5th North Bund Forum. This event, held in Shanghai, China, serves as a global stage for fostering collaboration in the green shipping industry. Maritime ministers and industry leaders from various countries attended this significant gathering.

During the forum, Hessa Al Malek, Advisor to the Minister for Maritime Transport Affairs at MoEI, delivered a speech highlighting the strong strategic ties between the UAE and China. She pointed out that non-oil trade between these nations surpassed US$90 billion in 2024. Both countries aim to increase this figure to US$200 billion by 2030, with growing cooperation across sectors like energy and logistics.

Al Malek stated, "The UAE is the largest incubator for Chinese businesses in the Arab world, with more than 16,500 commercial licenses registration owned by Chinese nationals in the UAE. The UAE is also China's largest partner in the Arab region in non-oil commodities only, with Chinese commodities being re-exported through UAE ports to more than 400 cities in the Middle East and North Africa, making it one of China’s most important strategic trade destinations."

Al Malek emphasised that transitioning to greener shipping is essential but should be approached with practical steps. She advocated for creating incentives and enablers before implementing drastic changes. This approach aims to ensure a smooth transition while maintaining economic stability within the maritime sector.

Recently, the UAE hosted the 2025 World Maritime Day Parallel Event under the theme "Our Ocean – Our Obligation – Our Opportunity." This event gathered international maritime leaders and experts to address crucial challenges and opportunities facing global maritime industries. Al Malek expressed pride in its success and collaborative spirit.

She remarked, "I am extremely proud to say that the event was a resound success. It reflected the spirit of collaboration that we want to see. We highlighted key topics like decarbonisation, plastic litter from ships, protecting marine biodiversity, and capacity development. By helping make our seas safer, the outcomes of the event will have a far-reaching regional and global impact on all maritime sectors, including green shipping."

Future Prospects for Global Collaboration

In her closing remarks at the forum, Al Malek stressed that future success belongs to nations working together towards shared objectives. She urged for unified global efforts to advance a green maritime sector contributing to economic growth while enhancing sustainability within maritime communities worldwide.

By focusing on collaboration and practical measures, both nations aim to lead advancements in green shipping while strengthening their economic ties further. The forum underscored these commitments as vital steps toward achieving long-term goals beneficial for all involved parties globally.

With inputs from WAM