Freetown: The UAE has reiterated its commitment to partnering with Africa on clean energy transition and green industrialization at the Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa (APRA) Investment Forum in Sierra Leone. Abdulla Balalaa, the Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, represented the UAE during the forum's opening session and ministerial debate at the Freetown International Conference Centre.
According to Emirates News Agency, the session convened ministers and senior officials to explore practical pathways for accelerating renewable energy deployment and sustainable industrial development across Africa. The session, titled 'Boosting Energy Transition and Green Industrialisation in APRA Countries,' underscored the role of partner countries, including the UAE, in enhancing collective support and aligning global engagement with Africa's broader sustainable development goals.
As a supporting member of APRA, the UAE reaffirmed its commitment to Africa's energy transition through long-term partnerships, investment cooperation, and knowledge exchange. Balalaa joined his counterparts from Ghana, Djibouti, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, and Zimbabwe in a moderated dialogue addressing the need for favourable environments, financial innovation, and regional cooperation to unlock renewable energy projects across the continent.
Balalaa emphasized the UAE's dedication to deepening partnerships that support Africa in achieving its clean energy and industrialization goals. The discussions focused on reducing perceived risks and addressing structural barriers to investment, including issues related to revenue models, infrastructure limitations, and market stability.
The Ministerial Debate officially opened the APRA Forum, setting the stage for subsequent technical sessions and grounding the agenda in the policy experiences and development realities of APRA member states. This engagement reflects the UAE's commitment to energy diplomacy that delivers shared value, local opportunity, and sustainable impact.
Reinforcing its partnership with Africa, the UAE highlighted its USD4.5 billion Africa Green Investment Initiative (AGII), launched during its COP28 Presidency. The initiative aims to deliver 15 GW of new clean power capacity by 2030 while catalyzing sustainable industrial growth. Concurrently, the UAE continues to strengthen strategic economic ties with African nations through Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) to enhance bilateral trade and investment opportunities in key sectors.