Dubai: Dubai Chambers has organised a roundtable discussion to explore trade and investment opportunities with 14 mayors and senior officials from cities around the world as part of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors' Forum, taking place at Expo City Dubai from 27th to 29th October. The roundtable was attended by Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, together with mayors and representatives from 14 cities and administrative regions, including North Miami, United States; Athens, Greece; Bilbao, Spain; Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Yerevan, Armenia; Paris, France; Nicosia, Cyprus; Kampala, Uganda; Surat, India; Beirut and Mount Lebanon, Lebanon; Accra, Ghana; Casablanca, Morocco; and Baghdad, Iraq.
According to Emirates News Agency, Lootah highlighted Dubai's role as a model for aligning economic strategies with urban development, emphasizing the emirate's successful integration of infrastructure investment with trade growth and foreign direct investment. He noted that Dubai's trade relations have been instrumental in shaping its urban landscape, demonstrating how harmony between trade, planning, and innovation can accelerate urban growth and attract new investment. Lootah emphasized that Dubai's development is rooted in partnerships, with collaboration between the local private sector and international partners playing a crucial role in progress.
Dubai Chambers is committed to fostering public-private partnerships, shaping favorable economic policies, and creating a competitive and sustainable business environment. The roundtable discussions focused on strategic partnerships' role in creating pathways for urban growth and innovation, integrating trade priorities within urban development, and achieving sustainable growth. Participants discussed the importance of developing physical and digital infrastructure to drive investment and attract global talent, as well as technology's role in enhancing logistics and connectivity.
The participants also examined how to strengthen trade's role in sustainable urban development and economic growth, and emphasized boosting cooperation between cities, international organizations, and the private sector to develop impactful development solutions.