Dr. Khaled Hanafi, Secretary General of the Union of Arab Chambers, during his participation in the seventh session: “Sustainability as a success factor in the face of global challenges: How to maintain sustainable growth in economies?”, which was held within the business sessions of the twenty-sixth Arab-German Economic Forum in Berlin, in the Federal Republic of Germany from 5-7 June 2023, explained that "The Arab world is an important partner with Germany in the energy sector," stressing that "the current partnership must go beyond fossil fuels to include green hydrogen and renewable energy sources, as Germany has enormous capabilities in the field of power generation from solar energy and wind energy."
The Secretary-General considered that "sustainability is a promising field for Arab-German cooperation, and this cooperation can only be successful if all aspects (social, economic, environmental, and institutional) are considered, especially since the Arab world faces great sustainability challenges in achieving social and economic development and environmental goals."
Dr. Hanafi believed that "economic development is slow due to the lack of energy supplies, as a fifth of the Arab population depends on non-commercial fuels for various energy uses." Explaining “with the world shifting towards a greener future, the Arab region stands ready to play a leading role in the issue of sustainability, as it The region is expected to attract more than 3 trillion US dollars and create more than a million jobs in the context of keeping pace with the economic diversification solutions in 2030.”
He pointed out that "smart mobility can improve the quality of life of the population, promote economic growth, and make transportation accessible," considering that "the circular economy provides a framework for sustainable growth by saving in waste and consumption, and creating new job opportunities."
He considered that "mainstreaming initiatives of the circular economy, green economy and participatory economy in urban areas could generate savings in the region amounting to $138 billion by 2030," stressing that green financing is key in supporting development and implementing sustainable businesses, investments, and policies.
He concluded by saying, "Climate risks and the response to them now more than ever, must make companies, decision-makers, and individuals well equipped to combat and keep pace with these challenges, in order to improve the social conditions of individuals and groups in the Arab region and the world."
Source (Union of Arab Chambers)
