<span style="color: #222222;">In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's clarion call for LiFE Lifestyle for Environment, Secretary (Economic Relations) External Affairs Ministry Dammu Ravi, urged I2U2 partners to work together to achieve a sustainable and environmentally friendly lifestyle for all. Mr. Ravi reaffirmed India's commitment to the I2U2 partnership at the first I2U2 Business Forum which began on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi. It was organised jointly by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. <br />''<br />''The Secretary, in his opening remarks, urged all stakeholders to work together to achieve tangible progress in all I2U2 initiatives, including the establishment of an I2U2 Innovation Centre in Gurugram, Haryana, India.<br />''<br />''The I2U2 partnership, which includes India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States, aims to promote tangible economic cooperation among its members in a variety of sectors such as food security, water, energy, space, transportation, health, and technology. It aims to mobilize private sector capital and expertise to help modernize infrastructure, decarbonize industries, improve public health, and promote the development of green technologies, among other things.<br />''<br />''The I2U2 Business Forum began with opening remarks by Ahmed Al Sayegh, UAE Minister of State; Jose W. Fernandez, US Under Secretary of State; Dammu Ravi, Secretary (Economic Relations) at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs; Ronen Levi, Director-General at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Brett McGurk, Deputy Assistant to the US President and White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa.<br />''<br />''In their remarks, officials reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing economic cooperation under the I2U2 framework, noting the significance of direct engagement between decision-makers from I2U2 countries and private sector stakeholders interested in forming future partnerships.<br />''<br />''Israel has submitted a proposal to the Forum for a joint space venture, which was discussed,<br />''The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Director General, Ronen Levi in his statement said he was pleased to present some of the very best Israeli technologies and know-how here today in order to integrate the private sector in projects benefiting the peoples of our region. We also hope to generate new ideas for joint initiatives among the four countries, he added.<br />''<br />''UAE Minister of State Ahmed Al Sayegh emphasised the UAE's high-level commitment to the I2U2 initiative. He stressed the importance of driving tangible progress in climate change mitigation in the run up to the UAE's hosting of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in November. Al Sayegh stated that the UAE is determined to work with its international partners, including I2U2 countries, to halt the worsening of the situation through joint cooperation on fostering a just and inclusive energy transition.<br />''<br />''Jose W. Fernandez, US Under Secretary of State commented on to leverage the private sector to build on the Abraham Accords and other agreements to advance economic integration into the broader region and set a standard for working together to deliver solutions to the broader region's most pressing challenges."<br />''<br />''This was followed by an official signing ceremony that welcomed the Republic of India as the latest country to join the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate, which was launched by the UAE and the United States at COP26 and includes Israel as a partner among 140 other governmental and non-governmental entities.<br />''<br />''The Session concluded with presentations on two major initiatives currently being investigated under I2U2, including a potential US$2 billion investment in a project to build a series of integrated agricultural facilities across India and the development of a 300-megawatt wind and solar hybrid power plant in the Indian state of Gujarat.<br />''<br />''During seven parallel sessions focused on food security, energy, water, space, transportation, health, and technology, companies and private sector representatives exchanged insights and discussed potential partnerships.</span>