UAE and Australia to advance trade, investment cooperation

PRAGUE: Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI), the UAE’s federal export credit company, and Export Finance Australia (EFA), Australia’s export credit agency, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen cooperation in advancing trade and investment between the UAE and Australia across key economic sectors.

The signing ceremony took place during TXF Global in Prague, a leading international conference for export finance. The MoU was signed by Raja Al Mazrouei, Chief Executive Officer of ECI, and John Hopkins, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of EFA.

"Australia is a valuable partner for the UAE, with whom we share a long-standing relationship built on mutual trust, shared values, and a strong commitment to economic diversification and sustainable growth," Al Mazrouei said.

She said the agreement, aligned with the objectives of the UAE-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), will deepen bilateral economic ties and create new opportunities for cooperation across priority sectors.

"Through this partnership, we aim to unlock new financing opportunities for sustainable, innovation-driven projects across priority sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and digital transformation. Strategic alliances like this reinforce ECI’s role in driving the UAE’s economic diversification agenda, enhancing trade resilience, and further elevating the nation’s global standing in export, investment, and international trade,” Al Mazrouei added.

Hopkins said, "Building on the strong foundation of the Australia-UAE partnership, including the Australia-UAE CEPA, this MOU deepens the relationship through practical cooperation and shared ambition, advancing prosperity, security, and opportunity for both nations.”

He added that the MoU strengthens the relationship between EFA and ECI and will provide a platform for greater cooperation and investment in priority areas, enhancing engagement in one of the most important strategic markets, including renewable energy, infrastructure, transport, digital infrastructure and critical supply chains.

The partnership aims to promote joint initiatives that enhance trade and investment flows between the two nations, while enabling co-financing of eligible projects both within their respective markets and in third regions, particularly Southeast Asia.

The MoU also supports knowledge exchange and institutional collaboration, enabling both entities to share expertise, insights and best practices across priority sectors. The agreement also seeks to advance collaboration in key sectors including renewable energy, infrastructure supporting the energy transition, transportation, and digital infrastructure.

The MoU establishes a comprehensive framework for long-term strategic cooperation between the two export credit agencies, reinforcing the shared commitment of both countries to strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties, in line with the Australia-UAE CEPA, while advancing their roles as regional leaders in sustainable economic growth.

Meanwhile the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) signed a collaborative partnership agreement with Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI).

ECI is bringing a suite of innovative credit insurance and risk mitigation solutions that are highly complementary to ETAF, the Energy Transition Accelerator Financing platform.

ECI has a broad geographic footprint covering 110 countries, with particular focus on Africa, Central Asia, the Middle East and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), South and Southeast Asia, and the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) partner countries.

Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA, said, “IRENA works with its global Membership and funding partners to facilitate access to financing for renewable energy project. However, in many developing markets, perceived risks continue to constrain investment. ECI’s participation in IRENA’s ETAF Platform creates new opportunities to attract financing for projects through targeted risk mitigation solutions, helping to close this gap and catalyse greater investment in the energy transition.” Raja Al Mazrouei, Chief Executive Officer of ECI, said, “Our partnership with IRENA marks a significant step forward in accelerating the global transition to a sustainable, low-carbon future. At ECI, we believe that addressing financing and risk-related challenges is essential to scaling renewable energy investments, particularly in emerging and high-growth markets. By providing comprehensive credit insurance and risk mitigation solutions to ETAF-supported projects, we aim to enhance investor confidence, unlock greater capital flows, and improve the bankability of clean energy initiatives. This collaboration also reflects ECI’s commitment to advancing climate action, supporting sustainable economic development, and strengthening international cooperation in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 ambitions.” Established in 2021, the ETAF Platform combines project facilitation, financing matchmaking, and access to risk-mitigation solutions to advance viable projects from pipeline to financing. It also aligns with country energy transition priorities, climate commitments, and sustainable development goals.

The partnership between IRENA and ECI will enable combining the institutions’ project original channels and network of partners on a single platform - the ETAF - maximising chances for renewable energy projects across the globe to get to financing and construction.

ECI’s joining brings ETAF’s partner count to 15, with pledges totalling $4.15 billion, highlighting its role as one of the most inclusive financing and de-risking platforms for a renewable-based energy transition.

Franchising key driver of economic growth: Ali Mohamed Al Marzooqi, Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of the Emirates Franchise Association, affirmed that the franchising sector is one of the most vital contributors to the global economy, comprising more than two million businesses worldwide and supporting over 19 million jobs, reflecting its significant role in driving economic growth and enabling entrepreneurs to expand locally and internationally.

He highlighted the sector’s strong momentum in the UAE, with a growing number of international brands choosing the country as a strategic hub for regional and global expansion, supported by a dynamic and investor-friendly business environment, advanced infrastructure, and a diversified economy spanning key sectors such as industry, tourism, education, healthcare, retail, and hospitality.

He noted that the Emirates Franchise Association continues to support the growth of the franchising sector as a strategic enabler of national economic competitiveness, helping empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), unlock high-value investment opportunities, promote franchising culture, and strengthen international partnerships.

Al Marzooqi added that the Association is committed to reinforcing the UAE’s presence on the global franchising stage through knowledge exchange, the adoption of international best practices, and supporting the international expansion of UAE-based businesses through modern franchise models.

WAM