The UAE is expected to sign a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (Cepa) with Chad by the end of the year and is currently in talks with other African countries, including Nigeria and Rwanda, to conclude similar deals, said Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade.
“We are in negotiations Cepa with Chad. We're done with the text, and we're moving toward the market access negotiation. I am very confident that we're going to conclude [the deal] before the end of the year,” Dr Al Zeyoudi said on the sidelines of UAE-Chad Trade and Investment Forum in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
UAE-Chad non-oil bilateral trade last year rose 32 per cent annually to $1.9 billion “and the momentum will continue", the minister added.
“Chad with stability, as well as with relations with the neighbours, we see there is always an area of collaboration between us, to make sure that we're taking some of the UAE experience when it comes to developments, stability, investments, growth into Chad and its neighbours,” Mr Al Zeyoudi said.
The Arab world’s second-largest economy is also holding talks to finalise Cepas with Nigeria and Rwanda and will soon begin negotiations with Ghana and South Africa.
“We're almost at the last steps of the negotiation on market access [with Nigeria] because the text is almost done and we are in a good, advanced stage with Rwanda,” Mr Al Zeyoudi said.
“Ghana also asked us to start the negotiation, so that is something which we're going to take soon. Last weekend, I met the South African minister [Mpho Parks Tau, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition] and we agreed as well that we're going to start the discussion on Cepa.”
Over the past few years, the UAE has been building trade and investment ties around the world through Cepas to diversify its non-oil economic base.
The country is aiming to increase the value of its trade and hit $1 trillion by 2031. The Emirates also aims to double the size of its economy to exceed $800 billion by the same year, with Cepa programmes among the central planks of the national strategy.
Since it was launched in September 2021, the UAE's Cepa programme has concluded 28 agreements with countries around the globe.
Deals have become effective with India, Indonesia, Cambodia, Georgia, Costa Rica, Mauritius, Serbia, Jordan, Malaysia, New Zealand and Australia, data from the Ministry of Foreign Trade shows.
New agreements to boost investments in Chad
There were also more than 39 agreements worth $6.2 billion signed on the sidelines of the UAE-Chad Trade and Investment Forum on Monday, with the UAE signing 18, Mr Al Zeyoudi said.
The agreements were signed in sectors related to renewable energy, logistics and industrial zones.
"Abu Dhabi Ports is going to play a role in the improving the logistical connectivity within the country," Mr Al Zeyoudi said. "We also signed a couple of deals on the industrial zones, which is going to have huge job creation and that's purely done by private sector-led companies from the UAE side."
The UAE is also exploring mining, gold, other minerals and the financial sector as areas in which to increase investment in Chad, he added.
Speaking at the same forum, Chad President Mahamat Deby invited investment in the country.
Chad is seeking $30 billion in investments as part of its national development plan, Chad Connection 2030, to boost growth in the central African nation.
Its economy, which relies heavily on oil, is projected to grow 3.3 per cent in 2025, slightly slower than the 3.5 per cent expansion it recorded in 2024, the IMF has said. The Washington-based multilateral lender expects Chad's economy to grow 3.6 per cent in 2026.
Mr Deby said: "Our commitment is 100 per cent. Chad is a land of opportunities, the moment has come to make it economic success."
Chad offers a range of sectors for investment including clean energy, mining, communication and infrastructure development, he added.
Pearls on a Branch: Oral Tales
Najlaa Khoury, Archipelago Books
How it works
Each player begins with one of the great empires of history, from Julius Caesar's Rome to Ramses of Egypt, spread over Europe and the Middle East.
Round by round, the player expands their empire. The more land they have, the more money they can take from their coffers for each go.
As unruled land and soldiers are acquired, players must feed them. When a player comes up against land held by another army, they can choose to battle for supremacy.
A dice-based battle system is used and players can get the edge on their enemy with by deploying a renowned hero on the battlefield.
Players that lose battles and land will find their coffers dwindle and troops go hungry. The end goal? Global domination of course.
%20Ramez%20Gab%20Min%20El%20Akher
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStreaming%20on%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMBC%20Shahid%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
HAJJAN
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Abu%20Bakr%20Shawky%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3EStarring%3A%20Omar%20Alatawi%2C%20Tulin%20Essam%2C%20Ibrahim%20Al-Hasawi%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Power: 272hp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 331Nm from 5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.7L/100km
On sale: now
Price: Dh149,000
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.3-litre%204cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E299hp%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E420Nm%20at%202%2C750rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E12.4L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh157%2C395%20(XLS)%3B%20Dh199%2C395%20(Limited)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Fifa%20World%20Cup%20Qatar%202022%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFirst%20match%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENovember%2020%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFinal%2016%20round%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDecember%203%20to%206%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EQuarter-finals%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDecember%209%20and%2010%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESemi-finals%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDecember%2013%20and%2014%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFinal%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDecember%2018%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo and dual electric motors
Power: 300hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 520Nm at 1,500-3,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.0L/100km
Price: from Dh199,900
On sale: now
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
|
1.
|
United States
|
|
2.
|
China
|
|
3.
|
UAE
|
|
4.
|
Japan
|
|
5
|
Norway
|
|
6.
|
Canada
|
|
7.
|
Singapore
|
|
8.
|
Australia
|
|
9.
|
Saudi Arabia
|
|
10.
|
South Korea
|
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Fight card
- Aliu Bamidele Lasisi (Nigeria) beat Artid Vamrungauea (Thailand) POINTS
- Julaidah Abdulfatah (Saudi Arabia) beat Martin Kabrhel (Czech Rep) POINTS
- Kem Ljungquist (Denmark) beat Mourad Omar (Egypt) TKO
- Michael Lawal (UK) beat Tamas Kozma (Hungary) KO
- Zuhayr Al Qahtani (Saudi Arabia) beat Mohammed Mahmoud (UK) POINTS
- Darren Surtees (UK) beat Kane Baker (UK) KO
- Chris Eubank Jr (UK) beat JJ McDonagh (Ireland) TKO
- Callum Smith (UK) beat George Groves (UK) KO
What is a Ponzi scheme?
A fraudulent investment operation where the scammer provides fake reports and generates returns for old investors through money paid by new investors, rather than through ligitimate business activities.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Tank warfare
Lt Gen Erik Petersen, deputy chief of programs, US Army, has argued it took a “three decade holiday” on modernising tanks.
“There clearly remains a significant armoured heavy ground manoeuvre threat in this world and maintaining a world class armoured force is absolutely vital,” the general said in London last week.
“We are developing next generation capabilities to compete with and deter adversaries to prevent opportunism or miscalculation, and, if necessary, defeat any foe decisively.”
Three ways to get a gratitude glow
By committing to at least one of these daily, you can bring more gratitude into your life, says Ong.
- During your morning skincare routine, name five things you are thankful for about yourself.
- As you finish your skincare routine, look yourself in the eye and speak an affirmation, such as: “I am grateful for every part of me, including my ability to take care of my skin.”
- In the evening, take some deep breaths, notice how your skin feels, and listen for what your skin is grateful for.
