UAE Charts Ambitious Course for Enhanced Engagement with Latin America
The Minister of State for International Cooperation has outlined the Emirates' vision for deepening strategic partnerships across the Latin American region, emphasising opportunities in investment, trade and technological innovation.
Speaking at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, has articulated the UAE’s strategic commitment to strengthening ties with Latin America across multiple sectors of mutual benefit.
Addressing representatives of Agencia EFE, the Spanish international news agency, Minister Al Hashimy underscored the considerable scope for partnership expansion. “We see Latin America as a region of enormous potential—not only for energy and infrastructure investment, but also for food security, technology, innovation, and healthcare,” she remarked, emphasising the importance of fostering both governmental support and direct business engagement.
Whilst acknowledging the Emirates’ longstanding commercial presence throughout the region, the Minister highlighted the qualitative shift now taking place. The UAE’s historical investments and business relationships, established over decades, are evolving into a more ambitious framework designed to unlock fresh opportunities and unexplored markets.
Central to this strategic vision is the imperative of cultivating meaningful connections between peoples and enterprises. Minister Al Hashimy stressed the value of mutual understanding, noting that enhanced connectivity extends beyond conventional commercial channels to encompass intellectual exchange and reciprocal learning.
The UAE’s engagement with Latin America encompasses a comprehensive range of sectors. Infrastructure development, encompassing ports, airports and railways, sits alongside traditional energy interests. Simultaneously, the Emirates is pursuing opportunities in agricultural production and food security—areas of particular strategic importance—whilst simultaneously positioning itself at the forefront of emerging technological and artificial intelligence applications.
A pivotal element of the UAE’s approach has been the negotiation of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements, or CEPAs. Over the past five years, the Emirates has concluded 38 such agreements with international partners, including agreements with Costa Rica, Colombia, and Chile. These frameworks represent substantive commitments to reducing trade barriers and establishing robust foundations for sustained commercial engagement.
Minister Al Hashimy articulated a pragmatic philosophy underpinning these initiatives. Even where diplomatic conversations present complexity, the UAE remains committed to sustained dialogue, transparent communication regarding its intentions, and the collaborative pursuit of mutually beneficial outcomes.
The Minister encouraged Latin American small and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurs to view the UAE not merely as a commercial destination, but rather as a sophisticated gateway providing access to a substantially broader regional ecosystem. This positioning reflects the Emirates’ role as a nexus connecting diverse markets and facilitating cross-regional commerce and investment flows.
Source: WAM