Abu Dhabi Investment Office, Israel Export Institute Lay Trade Foundations

The Israeli side during the signing of the agreement. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Israeli side during the signing of the agreement. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Abu Dhabi Investment Office, Israel Export Institute Lay Trade Foundations

The Israeli side during the signing of the agreement. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Israeli side during the signing of the agreement. Asharq Al-Awsat

The Abu Dhabi Investment Office, ADIO, has signed a cooperation agreement with the Israel Export Institute, establishing the foundation for strong trade bridges between Abu Dhabi and Israel by unlocking opportunities to collaborate on investments, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.

The agreement covers the facilitation of introductions with potential investee companies in both markets, hosting joint events and supporting government and industry delegations. ADIO will work closely with the Israel Export Institute to support trade and investment opportunities for Israeli companies, connecting them with strategic partnerships and resources to foster long-term success in the emirate, WAM said.

The signing of the agreement took place virtually on Monday, and was attended by Adiv Baruch, Chairman of the Israel Export Institute, Gadi Ariely, Director-General of the Israel Export Institute, and Dr. Tariq bin Hendi, Director-General of ADIO.

Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, said, "Rapid progress is being made in laying the foundations for closer private sector cooperation for Abu Dhabi and Israel. This agreement is an important opportunity to strengthen business cooperation and enable technical and commercial collaboration between our respective markets."

Dr. Tariq Bin Hendi, Director-General of ADIO, said, "ADIO is working to establish links with the key facilitators of investment and innovation between Abu Dhabi and Israel. Our agreement with the Israel Export Institute is an important next step in creating the platform to advance and accelerate opportunities for companies in Abu Dhabi and Israel."

The Israel Export & International Cooperation Institute, IEICI, supported by member firms, private sector bodies and the Government of Israel, promotes global economic and business activities, by providing a wide range of export-oriented services to Israeli companies, and complementary services to the international business community. IEICI helps build successful joint ventures, strategic alliances and trade partnerships.

Israel’s Minister of Economy and Industry Amir Peretz said the cooperation agreement is another step towards strengthening the growing economic ties with the UAE.

“This agreement gets even greater significance, specifically now, when facing the COVID-19 crisis and while the Israeli economy is in a difficult situation, and the revenue cycle of many established Israeli companies is suffering considerably as a result. I do hope that the economic ties that are being built with the UAE will play a significant part in accelerating the Israeli economy during this difficult period."

Adiv Baruch expressed confidence that the new collaboration will bring significant business outcomes for both parties and we are excited to embark on this common path.

“The Israel Export Institute, together with the Foreign Trade Administration at the Ministry of Economy, and with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to build the most professional infrastructure promoting global economic activities between the UAE and Israel. The collaboration with ADIO will play a major role in promoting the economic relations between Abu Dhabi and Israel."

ADIO recently announced plans to open an office in Tel Aviv to facilitate connections between innovation-focused companies and organizations in Abu Dhabi and Israel.



Oil Prices Held Down by Trump Tariff Uncertainty

FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown)
FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown)
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Oil Prices Held Down by Trump Tariff Uncertainty

FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown)
FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown)

Oil prices were little changed on Thursday, maintaining almost all of the previous session's losses on uncertainty over how US President Donald Trump's proposed tariffs and energy policies would affect global economic growth and energy demand.

Brent crude futures were up 18 cents at $79.18 a barrel by 1315 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) rose 14 cents to $75.58.

"Oil markets have given back some recent gains due to mixed drivers," said Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at brokerage Phillip Nova.

"Key factors include expectations of increased US production under President Trump's pro-drilling policies and easing geopolitical stress in Gaza, lifting fears of further escalation in supply disruption from key producing regions."

The broader economic implications of US tariffs could further dampen global oil demand growth, she added, Reuters reported.

Trump has said he would add new tariffs to his sanctions threat against Russia if the country does not make a deal to end its war in Ukraine.

He also vowed to hit the European Union with tariffs and impose 25% tariffs against Canada and Mexico. On China, Trump said his administration was discussing a 10% punitive duty because fentanyl is being sent from there to the United States.

On Monday he declared a national energy emergency intended to provide him with the authority to reduce environmental restrictions on energy infrastructure and projects and ease permitting for new transmission and pipeline infrastructure.

There will be "more potential downward choppy movement in the oil market in the near term due to the Trump administration's lack of clarity on trade tariffs policy and impending higher oil supplies from the US", OANDA senior market analyst Kelvin Wong said in an email.

On the US oil inventory front, crude stocks rose by 958,000 barrels in the week ended Jan. 17, according to sources citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Wednesday.

Gasoline inventories rose by 3.23 million barrels and distillate stocks climbed by 1.88 million barrels, they said.