Addis Ababa (Horndiplomat) — The 2026 Hili UAE-Africa Dialogue concluded in Addis Ababa on Friday with African and Emirati officers calling for deeper strategic partnerships, elevated funding and higher cooperation to advance sustainable improvement and shared prosperity.
The 2-day discussion board introduced collectively senior authorities officers, diplomats, policymakers, researchers and enterprise leaders from Africa and the United Arab Emirates to debate cooperation in commerce, infrastructure, agriculture, renewable vitality, expertise and different strategic sectors.
Contributors mentioned stronger partnerships and innovation-driven cooperation could be vital to addressing international challenges and unlocking new financial alternatives throughout Africa and the Gulf area.
Talking throughout the discussion board, Ambassador Hadera Berhe, Ethiopia’s State Minister for Political and Financial Affairs on the Ministry of International Affairs, mentioned Africa was rising as a key driver of worldwide progress amid important geopolitical and financial shifts.
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He pressured the significance of deepening Africa-UAE relations by way of partnerships based mostly on mutual respect, shared advantages, equality, co-investment, innovation and shared success.
“Partnerships constructed on mutual belief and shared pursuits are important to reaching sustainable improvement and prosperity,” Hadera mentioned.
Opening the dialogue, Dr. Ebtesam Al Teneiji, Deputy Director Basic of the Emirates Middle for Strategic Research and Analysis (ECSSR), described connectivity as a strategic benefit in an more and more fragmented world.
She mentioned non-oil commerce between the UAE and Africa grew by 34% between 2023 and 2024, surpassing $100 billion, reflecting increasing financial ties and rising long-term cooperation between the 2 sides.
Al Teneiji highlighted growing collaboration in superior logistics, infrastructure, manufacturing, renewable vitality, finance, agriculture and expertise, emphasizing the necessity to remodel shared alternatives into tangible outcomes.
On the sidelines of the discussion board, Ethiopia’s Institute of International Affairs (IFA) and the UAE’s Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA) signed a memorandum of understanding geared toward strengthening cooperation in analysis, coverage dialogue, capability constructing, joint publications and the trade of specialists and researchers.
Jafar Bedru, Government Director of the Institute of International Affairs, described the settlement as the start of a long-term partnership designed to deepen institutional cooperation and strengthen Africa-UAE relations.
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The Hili UAE-Africa Dialogue serves as a strategic geopolitical and financial platform meant to foster coverage dialogue, information trade and enterprise engagement between African international locations and the United Arab Emirates.
The discussion board concluded with individuals reaffirming their dedication to increasing strategic cooperation and selling inclusive progress, sustainable improvement and shared prosperity throughout each areas.
(Reporting by Mohamed Duale; Modifying by Horn Diplomat Desk)