The UAE has announced the next phase of its TradeTech Initiative at the WTO Public Forum in Geneva, with a focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI). Abdelsalam Mohamed Al Ali, Minister Plenipotentiary and Director-Representative of the UAE’s Permanent Mission to the WTO, revealed the plans during a session titled “TradeTech Interviews: The Thinker, the Innovator, and the Builder,” which explored the role of AI in global trade.
“AI will be our primary focus this year, offering potential to streamline logistics, optimise trade finance, and improve decision-making across supply chains,” said Al Ali. He emphasised that AI integration will enhance efficiency and resilience in global trade, helping to dismantle barriers and reduce costs while making trade more inclusive for large companies, SMEs, and emerging economies.
The session, organised by the World Economic Forum, UAE Ministry of Economy, and Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), included contributions from experts such as Laetitia Cailleteau of Accenture UK, Vinay Mendoca of HSBC, and Steven Pope of DHL. They highlighted the transformative role of AI in trade finance and the involvement of MSMEs in supply chains.
The TradeTech Initiative, launched in January 2023 in collaboration with the World Economic Forum, aims to drive the integration of advanced technologies in global supply chains. The next phase will introduce a Regulatory Sandbox for AI in trade finance and an Accelerator to support new tech-driven solutions.
Al Ali added that the initiative reflects the UAE’s commitment to creating a more efficient, inclusive, and sustainable global trade system by leveraging technologies like AI, automation, and distributed ledger technology.
