ABU DHABI, (Pakistan Point News - 01st May, 2019) Start-ups are at the heart of the new joint France-UAE strategy in the field of Artificial Intelligence, AI, according to French Minister of Transport, who also believes that many French entrepreneurs have found in the UAE "an ideal place to express their creativity and innovation skills."
"Each year, thousands of French entrepreneurs take part in the major exhibitions taking place in the UAE such as the International Defence Exhibition and Conference, IDEX, Gulf Information Technology Exhibition, GITEX, Arab Health, the World Future Energy Summit, Gulfood or Beauty World middle East," Elisabeth Borne said in a statement received by WAM on the eve of her visit to the UAE, which begins on Thursday.
The French minister during her day-long visit will hold discussions with H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, and Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the board of Executive Directors of Road and Transport Authority, Dubai, on cooperation in transport sector between France and the UAE.
"I am also here to discuss with the Emirati authorities of transportation the many opportunities for French – Emirati cooperation in this field. I will be meeting with H.H. Sheikh Ahmed to focus on our partnership in the aviation sector and with Mattar Mohamed Al Tayer since our two countries have a shared vision of the future of urban mobility," she said.
The minister added, "We are working hand in hand in order to invent new and better forms of mobility," describing the cooperation with RTA as "more than excellent."
As for the aviation sector, the minister said, "let me acknowledge the strength of our partnership. In becoming a global hub, the UAE needs solid and reliable partners. This is exactly the kind of partnership that Airbus has developed with the UAE’s main airlines. We can be proud of what has been achieved and look very positively towards the future."
The extension of Dubai’s public transport network offers amazing opportunities of cooperation for French companies, such as Thales or Alstom, who are currently working on the extension of the Dubai Metro to reach the site of Expo Dubai 2020, she added.
Mrs. Borne also spoke about France participation in Dubai Expo 2020, which she said is at the heart of Dubai’s strategy. "France wants to be part of this worldwide event. In this regard, the first purpose of my visit is to announce the laying of the first stone of the French Pavilion."
"As I already mentioned, I am visiting the United Arab Emirates to launch the construction of the French Pavilion on the site of Dubai Expo 2020 which has been unveiled a few weeks ago in Paris."
Under the motto 'Light, Enlightenment', the French Pavilion designed by Atelier du Prado Architectes and Celnikier and Grabli has chosen light as a source of inspiration. Its aim is to express and embody a bold, conquering and innovative vision of Paris along with connected and sustainable territories, the statement said.
She also shared her country's world expos experience. "Allow me to remind you that six world exhibitions took place in France and are often associated with some iconic landmarks: the Eiffel Tower was created on the occasion of the 1889 exhibition and the first Paris metro line and first escalator were inaugurated in 1900, also at the time of a world exhibition."
This historical heritage has strongly contributed to the French expertise in the creation of Pavilions, she added.
Located in the area dedicated to Mobility, the French Pavilion aims to highlight the fastest possible mobility, but also to embody the Enlightenment, a visionary school-of-thought from the 18th century, according to the statement.
"The Pavilion will promote the French model of innovation, which makes it possible to conciliate sustainable development and international business competitiveness for connected and sustainable cities and territories, serving the citizen and the common good," the minister went on to say.
In line with France's ecological ambition, notably through the 'One Planet Summit', Mrs. Borne said, this pavilion will be the most sustainable ever built because it can be dismantled and reused. Thought and designed as virtuous, it will be deployed according to the 3 pillars of bio-climatism: renewable, clean and controlled energy, sustainable materials and a circular economy at work.
"Finally, the Pavilion is a tool for the promotion, development and attractiveness of France: it is an incomparable showcase for the know-how and innovations of French companies as well as a platform to accelerate the international development of the French offer," she added.
She said that two weeks ago, France joined the 'Country in Residence Programme' in AREA 2071, which means that the French Tech Dubai, official online hub of the French Tech ecosystem, will give a strong boost for French startups based in the UAE.
Talking about France-UAE ties the minister said, "I am very glad to be in the United Arab Emirates for my first official visit in this country, only a few weeks after the visit of French Minister of the Economy and Finance, Bruno Le Maire, and five months after the successful meeting of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and President Emmanuel Macron in Paris last November."
"As you know, the France – UAE relationship is outstanding in all fields and we are working at all levels to enhance our economic cooperation, which includes a focus on the modernisation and sustainability of our cities and ways of circulations," she added.
About the strengths and challenges of the French – Emirati economic partnership, the Minister said, "Economic cooperation is a key pillar of the strategic partnership between our two countries. With a bilateral trade of Euro4,44 bn in 2018, the UAE is the second biggest trade partner of France in the Gulf.
"The UAE is home to more than 600 subsidiaries of French companies .... These companies work in all fields from oil and gas to energy and environment, banking, hospitality, retail, defence, luxury and of course, transports."
