UAE MoIAT and Vietnam Strengthen Collaboration at COP28

UAE’s Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology during COP28, held in the Green Zone. The agreement, signed by Omar Al Suwaidi, MoIAT’s Undersecretary, and Le Xuan Dinh, Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, focuses on bolstering collaboration in the realm of quality infrastructure.

The MoU outlines MoIAT’s commitment to providing technical expertise to Vietnam’s Directorate for Standards, Metrology, and Quality (STAMEQ), specifically its Halal Certification Agency, through the UAE Halal System. This collaborative initiative aims to meet the UAE’s standards for entities issuing Halal certificates, ultimately facilitating trade between the two nations.

Dr. Farah Al Zarooni, MoIAT’s Assistant Undersecretary for the Standards and Regulations Sector, attended the signing alongside officials from both countries. Al Suwaidi emphasized the ministry’s dedication to enhancing national quality infrastructure capabilities in alignment with UAE government directives. He highlighted the UAE’s top ranking in the 2022 Quality Infrastructure for Sustainable Development Index, reinforcing the country’s commitment to sustainable economic development.

The MoU seeks to foster knowledge exchange between MoIAT and STAMEQ, adhering to international best practices and enhancing the UAE’s business ecosystem to attract industrial investments. Al Suwaidi emphasized the ministry’s role in harmonizing standards through global partnerships to boost trade and support the growth of Halal products.

Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Science, Le Xuan Dinh, expressed delight at the signing, foreseeing enhanced scientific and technological cooperation between the two nations in standardization, metrology, conformity assessment, and the Halal ecosystem.

The UAE is a significant trading partner for Vietnam in the Arab world, constituting 39 percent of its total trade with Arab countries. The non-oil trade volume between the two nations reached AED29.4 billion in 2022, with ongoing negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to strengthen trade ties.

In alignment with the UAE’s commitment to climate neutrality by 2050, MoIAT’s participation in COP28 aims to encourage industrial corporations to adopt advanced technology solutions for energy efficiency, sustainable practices, and clean energy adoption. MoIAT strives to attract local and international investments in sustainable industries, fostering the growth and competitiveness of the national industrial sector to solidify the UAE’s global position as an innovation hub, aligning with the National Strategy for Industry and Advanced Technology.