The fourth World Green Economy Summit (WGES) 2017, to be held in Dubai next week, will be an ideal platform that attracts business leaders, policy makers and decision-makers from different sectors to crystallise visions and ideas for green economy, officials said.

Officials announced the completion of preparations for holding the summit at a press conference today (October19).

The event will take place on October 24 and 25, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, in Dubai, UAE.

The event will take place under the theme ‘Driving innovation, Leading change’, and is being held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The press conference was attended by Dr Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Climate Change and the Environment and Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, vice chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy in Dubai, managing director and CEO of Dewa, and chairman of WGES.

It also witnessed the presence of Ahmed Buti Al Muhairbi, secretary general of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (DSCE); Ahmad Bin Shafar, chief executive officer, Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower), and some government officials.

During the press conference, Al Zeyoudi affirmed that the summit has established itself as a major annual event locally and internationally to manage the global dialogue on green economy as part of the sustainable development, thanks to the support  given by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the efforts being made Dewa and its partners, both at the organisational level and leading efforts to transform Dubai into a global capital for the green economy in  line with His Highness' vision.

Dr Al Zeyoudi added that this global event represents an ideal platform that attracts more business leaders, policy makers and decision-makers in different sectors each year to crystallise visions and ideas that would further enhance exerted efforts to accelerate the transformation of the global economy into a sustainable and low carbon economy that would contribute to achieving sustainable development goals and combating poverty.

He further noted that since the adoption of the Green Economy approach under ‘The UAE Green Growth Strategy 2012’, the country has made significant progress towards achieving green economy. This is best reflected by the growing and widespread interest of the public and private sectors in this strategy, including finance and investment sectors and the academic community, it said.

The Minister of Climate Change and the Environment expressed confidence that this summit as previous editions did, would give additional momentum to the national and international efforts being made  to transform the global economy into a sustainable, low-carbon green economy.

Al Tayer said: “This laudable initiative event first held in 2014, aimed at promoting sustainable development and building a green society. In the past few years, the summit has served as an indispensable element in driving green economy for a better future for us and for generations to come.”

“We will continue our efforts to further boost our achievements and success,” he added.

He said: “The summit has attracted a galaxy of speakers this year including CEOs, managing directors, entrepreneurs, and local, regional and international leaders. This year, event will drive new ideas and technologies.”

“It will comprise of 16 insightful sessions, led by more than 60 prominent speakers, including local, regional and international speakers from different sectors, and supported by more than 25 partners and sponsors,” he said.

In addition, the conference witnessed a speech by Yigit Arslancik, regional head of global banking, GCC, HSBC, who highlighted the significance of partnerships between public and private sectors for promoting sustainable development and green economy.

The press conference included a presentation delivered by Mustafa Adel, programme director at Thomson Reuters, highlighting an overview of the summit and key strategies to be discussed at the forum.

Al Tayer concluded by thanking WGES’ sponsors for their continued support to the summit. He also thanked members of the organising committee and various media members who are playing a prominent role in supporting WGES since its inception.

The event will be held in conjunction with the 19th edition of Water, Energy, Technology and Energy Exhibition ‘Wetex 2017’ and the 2nd edition of ‘Dubai Solar Show 2017’, as part of the Green Week activities in Dubai, it stated. – TradeArabia News Service