ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – October 13, 2015 – Joint Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)-UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) workshop sets stage for regional government officials and development stakeholders to announce plans for a green growth knowledge sharing network to enhance environmentally sustainable economic growth in countries across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
The Green Growth MENA Network (GGMN) will consist of an online community of regional officials, practitioners and experts sharing information on green growth in the region, including policy research and best practices, events and training opportunities, new technologies and financing sources.
The announcement comes at the conclusion of the First MENA Green Growth Knowledge Sharing Workshop, organized by MOFA and GGGI from October 12-13.
Taking place in GGGI’s Abu Dhabi Office in Masdar City, the workshop gathered over 50 participants from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Morocco, Egypt, and the UAE to share experiences and best practices for the development and implementation of successful policies and projects for national green growth.
The workshop was opened by H.E. Dr. Thani Ahmed Al-Zeyoudi, UAE Permanent Representative to the International Renewable Energy Agency, and Director of Energy & Climate Change at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who emphasized the importance of regional cooperation to achieve national development goals.
“Countries in the MENA region share many of the same challenges in achieving social and economic development objectives in an environmentally sustainable manner”, said Dr. Al-Zeyoudi. “Only by sharing our knowledge and experiences can we overcome these challenges and identify green growth opportunities that can benefit of each country and the entire region.”
In support of these objects the GGMN will help identify potential resources for regional stakeholders in need of support, and serve to build common green growth knowledge for the MENA region.
“Providing an accessible and continuous platform that draws in all MENA stakeholders can only strengthen the green growth efforts that are being delivered on the ground, and facilitate the development of stronger regional coordination for inclusive, sustainable growth that we are all committed to,” said Per Bertilsson, GGGI Assistant Director-General.
The Green Growth MENA Network will be operated by GGGI from its Abu Dhabi Office, and will be officially launched at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi on 18-21 January, 2016, during a side-event organized by the by the GGGI Abu Dhabi Office and UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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About GGGI
Based in Seoul, GGGI is an intergovernmental organization founded to support and promote green growth. The organization partners with countries around the globe to help them build economies that grow strongly and are more efficient and sustainable in the use of natural resources, less carbon intensive, and more resilient to climate change. Through its Abu Dhabi Office, GGGI is active in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E), Jordan and Morocco. In the U.A.E. GGGI has been supporting efforts to achieve “the UAE Vision 2021” and “Green Economy for Sustainable Development Vision” by providing technical analysis and advisory on the UAE National Green Growth Strategy and other Green Growth projects. To learn more, see https://gggi.org and visit us on Facebook and Twitter.