The Secretary General of Commerce, Alfredo Bonet, and Sheikh Al Mubarak Abu Dhabi have signed a Technical Cooperation Agreement to finance viability studies, technical assistance and assessment for projects that the Emirate of Abu Dhabi plans to develop in the sectors of tourism, renewable energies, water, the environment and transport.

The agreement, which is funded by the Fund for Viability Studies (FEV), has been provided with 5 million Euros and is a continuation of that signed in 2008.

• Amongst the projects that might be financed there is onerelating to the desalination of subterranean water, and another relating to a thermoelectric tower in the city of Masdar.

• The visit also included the signing of an agreement between a local Masdar company and the Institute of Photovoltaic Concentration Systems (ISFOC, with its Spanish initials) to set up a solar energy laboratory.

• The Secretary General inaugurated the largest construction trade fair in the Middle East, the Big 5 Show, which receives financing from the Ministry of Industry that amounts to 200,000 €.

• The Spain – United Arab Emirates investments seminar alsotook place. The principal aim of this seminar is to raise Emirates’ investments in Spain. More than 100 companies were represented at the seminar.

• The United Arab Emirates are Spain’s fourth most important market in the Arab world. In 2008 Spanish exports grew by 34%, reaching almost 1,200 million Euros.

Abu Dhabi has already expressed its interest in the development of two new study projects: a pilot scheme for desalinating subterranean water in the city of Masdar and a viability study on thermoelectric tower technology for the same city.

The signing of this agreement is part of the official two day trip being made by the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Commerce to the United Arab Emirates, the objective of which is to foment and boost commercial relations between both States.

During his speech to local authorities, Alfredo Bonet has highlighted the good relations that exist between Spain and the United Arab Emirates whom he considers to be “a priority market for the Government of Spain and for Spanish companies”.

In this sense, Alfredo Bonet also mentioned the excellent results of our exports to the UAE, our fourth most important market in the Arab world. In 2008, exports grew by 34% to almost 1,200 million Euros, with imports of only 252 million.

The most important Construction Fair in the Middle East
The Big 5 Show Trade Fair was inaugurated prior to the signing. This is the Middle East’s most important fair for the construction industry.

Spain’s participation in the fair has for many years been notable, with a significant number of exhibitor companies, most of which have exhibited in a grouped pavilion. This year, in spite of the economic climate, there were 97 Spanish exhibitor companies. This shows the interest that Spanish companies continue to have in the Gulf markets, and there are plenty of companies that have repeatedly taken part in the latest fairs that have been held.

The tight agenda of the visit also included a visit to the city of Masdar to see what cities will be like in the future. This is the so-called “renewable city”, with zero CO2 emissions, and it has become a benchmark in all of the Gulf region.

The regional authorities, and particularly those of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, are significantly providing their backing for diversification in energy sources, with a clear predominance of solar energy. Furthermore, Masdar will be the base for IRENA, the International Renewable Energy Agency, in which Spain plays an active part.

During the visit to this city a contract was signed by a local Masdar company and the ISFOC (Institute of Photovoltaic Concentration Systems) for the construction and start-up of a laboratory for the development of solar concentration energy.

This agreement demonstrates how Spanish industry has become a leader in the sector of renewable energies. In this sense, Spain is the primary producer in the world of thermo-solar energy, and the third in wind generated or eolian energy.


                                                                                    Cecilia Helland