The UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology joined BRICS partners and UNIDO on 16 August 2024 to become a founding partner of the Centre for Industrial Competences — a new multilateral body designed to strengthen industrial human capital development across member countries.
Launch at the 8th BRICS Industry Ministers Meeting
The centre was formally established at the 8th BRICS Industry Ministers Meeting, held in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. The gathering brought together officials from the industry, trade, and technology ministries of the UAE, Russia, Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Iran, and South Africa.
Chaired by Russia, the meeting convened under the theme: "Strengthening multilateralism for equitable global development and security." Discussions centred on coordinating industrial policy across the BRICS bloc, which now represents nearly 45% of the world's population and approximately one third of global GDP.
UAE's Role and Omar Al Suwaidi's Statement
Omar Al Suwaidi, Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, highlighted the strategic significance of the partnership. He emphasised the BRICS framework as a critical vehicle for advancing sustainable development, noting the UAE's commitment to addressing shared global challenges such as food security and climate change.
Al Suwaidi's remarks reinforced the UAE's position as an active participant in shaping multilateral industrial policy since formally joining BRICS in January 2024.
Centre's Mandate and Working Groups
The newly established centre is designed to operate within the New Industrial Revolution (NIR) paradigm. Its primary mandate is to support capacity-building initiatives and enhance the industrial capabilities of BRICS member states through collaboration in areas of mutual interest.
Dedicated working groups have been formed across six sectors:
- Chemicals - Metals - SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) - Smart Manufacturing - Clean Technology (CleanTech) - Medical Equipment
The initiative is anchored in the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, with a specific focus on SDG 9 — industry, innovation, and infrastructure.
PartNIR Innovation Centre
The meeting also put forward the PartNIR Innovation Centre, a complementary body that provides policy coordination, personnel training, and project development support for industrial advancement within the BRICS framework.
Brazil was confirmed as the host of the 9th BRICS Industry Ministers Meeting in 2025, continuing the bloc's annual ministerial engagement on industrial cooperation.
