Abu Dhabi:Italy is aiming to strengthen its economic and investment relations with the UAE, as announced by Adolfo Urso, Italy's Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, during Investopia Bridge 2026.

According to Emirates News Agency, Urso emphasized the significance of finalizing a free trade agreement between the European Union and the UAE to expand cooperation in sectors such as critical raw materials, recycling, robotics, and artificial intelligence. He noted that Italian companies consider the UAE a promising market for growth and continue to invest in the region.

Urso highlighted the importance of market diversification and the benefits of free trade agreements, stating that the EU-UAE agreement would enhance trade and investment flows, opening up broader economic cooperation opportunities.

He elaborated on Italy's interest in recycling and recovering critical raw materials, citing the limited availability of these materials as a challenge that Italian firms are addressing through advanced recycling solutions. Additionally, he outlined plans for a joint venture with the UAE in advanced robotics, leveraging Italy's expertise to develop applications combining robotics and AI, including 'physical AI', for production processes.

Urso identified AI applications in industry, agriculture, healthcare, and services as key focus areas for future cooperation. He expressed optimism about strengthening UAE-Italy collaboration in innovation and technological development to help economies adapt to change and overcome challenges.