Exploring untapped avenues at Expo 2020 as Global Business Forum Africa opens today

Inayat-ur-Rahman, Business Editor

The Global Business Forum (GBF) Africa 2021 kicks off on Wednesday with heads of state, more than 45 ministers, high-ranking government officials and prominent influential business leaders from Africa and the UAE converging on Dubai for the event’s sixth edition.

Bearing the theme Transformation Through Trade, the high-level event is being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The forum, hosted at Dubai Exhibition Centre and organised by Dubai Chamber in partnership with Expo 2020 Dubai, aims to build bridges between UAE and African business communities and explore untapped trade and investment potential.

A number of heads of state and government officials are taking part in the forum, including Sheikh Shakhboot Nahyan Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation,  Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda,  Dr C.G.D.N. Chiwenga, Vice President of Zimbabwe, while the Chief Minister of Jersey and ministers from Ghana, Angola, Ethiopia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Liberia, along with ministers from Kenya, Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Senegal, Seychelles, Congo, Mauritania, Sudan and the Kingdom of Lesotho will also join the event.

Felix Tshisekedi, President of Congo, joins Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, Director General of Expo 2020 Dubai, in a session on day one that explores how Emirati firms can help drive sustainable growth in Congo – one of Africa’s largest and most populous states – and catalyse regional integration through infrastructure, investment and trade.

Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DP World will headline a session exploring partnerships between the two countries and the broader lessons for trade, integration, and entrepreneurship in Africa.

The two-day forum will open with a welcome address by Hamad Buamim, President and CEO of Dubai Chamber, underlining the crucial role of cross-border cooperation in discovering new business opportunities in Africa – home to some of the world’s fastest-growing economies.

Buamim reaffirmed Dubai Chamber’s commitment to building strategic partnerships with the key players in the African business ecosystem, and encouraging and supporting local and national companies to invest in African markets.

Sessions on the first day of the forum will address key trends and issues reshaping African economies at the moment, including the role of regional and international partnerships, such as the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), in reshaping the trade and investment landscapes and driving sustainable growth, capital as a factor driving innovation, and prospects for expanding UAE-Africa economic cooperation.

On the second day of the forum, conversations will shift to Dubai as a model for logistics, infrastructure development and smart city solutions that can be replicated in African markets, in addition to the growing momentum behind African entrepreneurs, smart agriculture, and digital economy initiatives.

GBF Africa will offer businessmen and investors valuable insights and up-to-date information on a plethora of promising investment opportunities. The forum aims to facilitate cooperation between business communities in Africa and the UAE and help African companies benefit from Dubai’s experience in building an integrated digital economy rooted in cutting-edge technologies.

Dubai Chamber is a non-profit public entity that supports Dubai’s vision as a global player by empowering businesses, providing innovative value-added services and access to influential networks. Its mission is to represent, support and protect the interests of the business community in Dubai by creating a favourable business environment, supporting the development of business and promoting Dubai as an international business hub.

Enoc Group has opened a new service station in Dubai South, an urban master development focused on the aviation and logistics ecosystem, in close proximity to the Expo 2020 site. This takes the total number of Enoc service stations to 156 across the United Arab Emirates.

The new service station will cater to residents and motorists in the area and for those travelling to the Expo 2020 Dubai site.

Built with a bridged canopy comprising of 5 dispenser islands with 10 dispensers, ENOC’s new service station is equipped with six fuel tanks with a capacity of 15,000 imperial gallons, as well as an electric vehicle charging station. With a total area of 108,145.91 sq.ft, the station includes a prayer room, a newly designed ZOOM convenience store with attached drive through facility, and Pronto, offering freshly baked foods, also with car wash and Autopro facilities. The station also includes a state-of-the-art new food court.

Saif Humaid Al Falasi, Group CEO, Enoc Group, said: “As the wholly owned entity of the Government of Dubai, we are committed to building the infrastructure of our country to fulfil the energy needs of residents and visitors. As we welcome visitors for world’s greatest show – Expo 2020 Dubai, we will continue to support the growth of the city by expanding our retail presence to provide best in class services to our customers.”

The station is equipped with new generation dispensers with retractable hoses to refuel cars with fuel tanks on both sides of the pumps. The fuel system has been designed to have the maximum permissible safe flow rate as per the National Fire Protection Association.

To enhance sustainability measures at the service station, the lighting and illumination do not require any maintenance. Low voltage LED lights with a life span of 50,000 hours ensure safety against electrical and fire hazards and reduce energy intensity by 50 per cent.

Enoc Group continues to urge customers to use contactless payment options, such as ENOCPay, and other accepted modes of payment at the station; which include, VIP, Dubai Now and NOL. Customers can also benefit from the ‘Yes’ rewards programme by earning points and rewards when paying for fuel, automotive services or for purchasing convenience store products and groceries as well as F&B at all stations.

Enoc Group (Emirates National Oil Company) is a leading integrated international oil and gas player operating across the energy sector value chain. As a wholly owned entity of the Government of Dubai, and integral to the Emirate’s success, ENOC owns and operates assets in the fields of exploration & production, supply & operations, terminals, fuel retail, aviation fuel and petroleum products for commercial & industrial use. The Group’s general business operations include automotive services, non-fuel F&B retail and fabrication services. Servicing thousands of customers in over 60 markets, the Group employs a multi-national workforce of over 11,000 employees and is deploying its world-class customer service, latest innovations and technologies as well as best practices to empower the UAE’s social and economic development. ENOC is the Official Integrated Energy Partner of Expo 2020 Dubai.