Dr. Sultan bin Ahmad Al Jaber, Minister of State, stated that the UAE considers development and investment in the Republic of Chad as especially important, due to its belief that sustainable development leads to prosperity and stability.

In his speech during the "Development and Investment in Chad Conference," which started yesterday in the French capital, Paris, with the attendance of Idris Deby, President of the Republic of Chad, and Edouard Philippe, Prime Minister of France, as well as several officials and international delegations, he stressed that the UAE’s participation in this international conference, held under the patronage of the French government, is part of its efforts to support the National Development Plan for Chad (2017-2021) while adding that these efforts are in line with the UAE’s visions and plans to support the international sustainable development goals of developing countries.

He stressed that the relations between the UAE and Chad have progressed in many areas, including in commerce, as the trade exchange between the two countries has doubled on four occasions during the past five years, reaching a total of US$834 million with Chad’s trade surplus reaching $203.8 million. The UAE has recently opened an embassy in N'Djamena, the capital of Chad, which will help to develop the bilateral ties between both countries and realise their mutual interests, especially as both countries share similar opinions on many regional and international issues, he added.

He further stressed that Chad is an influential country in the region as a member of a group of coastal countries that work together to achieve regional security and stability, through combatting terrorism and trans-borders illegal activities such as human, drug and weapons trafficking. These activities are a danger to many countries around the world, and they threaten international peace and stability. Therefore, the group of coastal countries, including Chad, could play a major role in achieving stability, which can only happen through comprehensive development plans and investment projects, he added.

He further added that the UAE supports any international efforts to harness the region’s potential and invest in energy and other available resources on the African continent, with the aim of realising the aspirations of the people of the continent, who have suffered from wars and conflicts.

He also stressed that the UAE will host a UAE-Chad Economic Forum on 13th September, 2017, in Abu Dhabi that will be attended by officials and representatives from over 400 companies and public institutions, notably from both countries, which will facilitate the implementation of a development plan announced by the government of Chad that requires international support.

Dr. Al Jaber, who headed the UAE delegation at the conference, also met with President Deby on the sidelines of the conference, where he conveyed the greetings of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, while President D?by sent his greetings to UAE’s wise leadership.

During the meeting, they discussed the promotion of mutual co-operation, to realise the interests of both countries.

The UAE delegation at the conference included Sultan Mohammed Al Shamsi, assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for International Development Affairs, and Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Development Fund, as well as other representatives from the ministry and the fund.