Mitsotakis visit to UAE: Joint initiative for 4 billion euro investments in Greece

The Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis paid an official visit to Abu Dhabi, the third in the United Arab Emirates since 2020, a fact which signals the willingness of the two countries to further strengthen their relations and their strategic character.

During their meeting, the Prime Minister and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, discussed the prospects for further deepening and expansion of the excellent bilateral relations.

(Dimitris Papamitsos / Greek Prime Minister’s Office)

Important agreements

In this spirit, important agreements were signed in the fields of investment, economic and technical cooperation, industry and advanced technologies, climate action, energy, health, police cooperation and standardization.

These are agreements that consolidate and deepen the rapidly growing strategic cooperation between the two countries. Central to the development of economic relations is the renewal of the successful cooperation of the Hellenic Development Bank with the state investment fund Mubadala and the creation of a joint initiative to make investments in our country amounting to 4 billion euros, highlighting its attractiveness as a global investment destination.

Turkey and Ukraine

The two leaders exchanged views on developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East. The Prime Minister informed the Crown Prince about the provocative behavior of Turkey and reiterated that it not only complicates the bilateral communication, but endangers regional stability.

Developments in Ukraine and the new conditions in the European and international security environment were also discussed. The Prime Minister stressed that geopolitical developments demonstrate the need for an EU-UAE rapprochement on security, energy and the green transition.

Finally, the need to address global environmental challenges and strengthen bilateral cooperation in this regard, in view of the organization by the UAE of the 28th Conference on Climate Change (COP28) in 2023 was discussed.

The dialogue of the Crown Prince with the Prime Minister

Welcoming the Greek Prime Minister, the heir to the throne of Abu Dhabi said: “I welcome a friend. We are confident that this visit will strengthen the good relations that the two countries already have. Relations between our two countries, which began in 1976, are dynamic and evolving in all fields.” He continued: “The strategic agreement we signed in 2020 gave a great impetus to these relations. As a result, our financial transactions increased by 76% and this is a result of the strategic agreement we signed. The Emirates seek to advance these relations at all levels, such as energy, technology, health, but also food security. ” He also added that the United Arab Emirates is watching developments in Ukraine with great concern, because these developments have implications on many levels.

“Our attitude from the beginning was to mediate and help on the humanitarian side. That is why the Emirates will offer humanitarian aid to citizens in need. We will give any help you need with the help of our friends like Greece. To mitigate all these effects at all levels.

“Because this crisis is having an impact on the energy sector, we are always focusing on energy security. We are interested in the stability of the energy market as we are also energy suppliers. Despite the crises in the Middle East and the Mediterranean region, the region has great potential for development and peaceful co-operation. The Emirates are working in this direction to prepare such conditions. To create partnerships with everyone, without exceptions”, he added. He also stressed that the United Arab Emirates and Greece aim for peace and cooperation.

“Mr. Prime Minister, dear friend, I welcome you once again and wish that we have even greater cooperation and shape more prospects for the future,” he said.

On his part, Kyriakos Mitsotakis said: “Your Highness the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, my dear friend Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. It is indeed a great pleasure for me to be with you today, at the head of a large delegation of ministers and government officials, on my third visit to the United Arab Emirates since taking office. And the close contacts between our two countries, at all levels, demonstrate – I believe – the excellent level of our bilateral relations and the understanding that we have in a wide range of issues “.

He also noted that “at the same time, we are proving our common desire to give even greater depth to our truly strategic partnership. A strategic relationship that, as you said, was established in 2020, but today is gaining new momentum with the signing of a significant number of memoranda of understanding on a wide range of issues between our two countries. And this close relationship of ours is based above all on the fraternal relations between our two countries, on our common principles and values, especially on our unwavering commitment to the principles of International Law, as the only mechanism for resolving disputes and peaceful coexistence and cooperation between of peoples “.

The Prime Minister added: “For my part, I want to assure you that further building this partnership is a conscious, stable and long-term choice on my part. After all, our relationship is inextricably linked to the wider interests of the European Union in the region.

“And you spoke at length about the importance we all attach to, as a result of the invasion of Ukraine, the issues that have to do with energy. And in this area we can further strengthen our cooperation.”

Mr. Mitsotakis underlined that Greece has the potential due to its geographical location to become a gateway for natural gas from the Middle East and from the southeastern Mediterranean to Europe. “Significant investments are being made in this direction and we would like to explore further the possibility of strategic cooperation and participation of funds from the United Arab Emirates in this direction. At the same time, Greece is reactivating its own mining program to find natural gas within Greek territory. And this is a perspective that may create opportunities for further strategic cooperation. I know your personal interest in the future of energy, in renewable energy sources. In issues such as offshore wind farms, we are ready to move at a high speed in order to build strategic partnerships to exploit this very important source of wealth for our country,” he said.

He added: “As a result, the scope of our cooperation can become wider and deeper. And in your person I see a steadfast and faithful friend of my homeland. And I want to thank you for the warm welcome you have given me and my delegation. “And to assure you that Greece will be on the side of the United Arab Emirates, when they feel that their own strategic interests are threatened.”

Regarding Yemen, Mr. Mitsotakis said that Greece unequivocally condemned the attacks against the UAE and the unacceptable targeting of innocent civilians and infrastructure. “Again, I want to thank you for your warm welcome. To renew my invitation to visit Greece, as due to my illness from Covid we had to postpone the visit which we had planned. I hope that soon you will be given the opportunity to visit my island, Crete, to renew once again these strong bonds of friendship that we are building between us,” said the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister was accompanied on the official visit by the Minister of Development and Investment, Adonis Georgiadis, the Minister of Environment and Energy, Costas Skrekas, the Minister of Civil Protection, Takis Theodorikakos, the Deputy Minister of Health, Mina Gaga and deputy minister of Public Investment responsible for Corporate Development Framework Agreement, Giannis Tsakiris, Deputy Minister of State for Economic Diplomacy and Extroversion, Costas Frangogiannis, Secretary General of International Economic Relations, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Affairs United Arab Emirates, Dionysios Zois, the Director of the Diplomatic Office of the Prime Minister, Ambassador Anna-Maria Boura, the National Security Adviser, Dr. Athanasios Dokos and the deputy government representative, Aristotle Peloni.