Dubai: Pearl Initiative, the Gulf-based non-profit organization, hosted 37 CEOs for its annual council meeting to discuss the role of the private sector in realising national policy agendas. It comes at a time when public and private sector partnerships are right at the centre of government mandates.
Regional and international corporate houses along with UAE ministers joined the meeting at held at the Expo 2020 venue. The convening also reviewed the Pearl Initiative’s updated vision strategy, ‘PI Vision 2025’.
It also addressed the development of corporate governance best practices in businesses across the region, particularly in light of a global push towards embracing environment, social, and governance (ESG) measures as a business imperative. “[UAE] has invested $40 billion in clean energy ventures locally, and is home to three of the largest-in-capacity and lowest-in-cost solar energy plants in the world,” said Mariam Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment. “As a major driver of the energy diversification worldwide, the UAE has invested close to $17 billion in renewables projects in 70 countries.”
Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, said: “The UAE has been engaging in efforts to retain talented expatriates through revising visa policies and regulations. This includes the roll out of Golden Visas and Green Visas for skilled professionals, entrepreneurs, investors, and young talents, the extension of residency durations and grace periods for skilled workers, and the introduction of freelance visas on the mainland.”
