RIO DE JANEIRO, 6th May, 2025 (WAM) -- The Fundacao Getulio Vargas (FGV), through its International Affairs Division (FGV DINT), in partnership with the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Brazil, hosted an exclusive fireside chat with Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, at FGV's headquarters in Rio de Janeiro.

The event, titled BRICS & Beyond: A High-Level Dialogue, brought together policymakers, diplomats, academics, leaders from both the public and private sectors, and FGV students, to discuss the UAE's role in BRICS, key opportunities from the growing strategic partnership between the UAE and Brazil, and cooperation across Latin America and Mercosur.

Reem Al Hashimy emphasised the UAE's vision for deeper collaboration with Brazil across trade, 'green' technology, renewable energy, sustainability, and innovation-driven sectors. She underscored that the UAE considers diversity as a strength and believes in building bridges through dialogue, partnerships, and shared prosperity.

As a member of BRICS, the UAE considers the group as a crucial platform for cooperation among emerging economies, and an opportunity to actively contribute to global peace, stability, and inclusive economic growth. She highlighted that the UAE's engagement in BRICS reflects its broader foreign policy focus on championing cultural multilateralism and engaging constructively across key international and multilateral arenas.

Furthermore, Al Hashimy highlighted the UAE's strategic objectives within BRICS, including strengthening economic cooperation with Member States, reinforcing the country's role as a global economic hub, and expanding its network of strategic partnerships.

Reem Al Hashimy also reiterated the UAE's commitment to tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030, which aligns with the UAE Consensus, the agreement signed by 198 parties at the momentous COP28 climate conference in Dubai in 2023. In this regard, Al Hashimy discussed bilateral initiatives such as joint ventures in solar energy and strategic minerals, and highlighted a January 2025 Memorandum of Understanding aimed at boosting investment and facilitating technology transfer in critical sectors such as mineral processing and 'green' energy.

She underlined the importance of people-to-people connections as a foundation for long-term bilateral engagement, citing educational, cultural, and professional exchanges as strategic tools to strengthen ties between the UAE and Brazil.

The fireside chat, moderated by journalist Catherine Osborn (foreign correspondent in Brazil and columnist for Foreign Policy), was opened by FGV President Carlos Ivan Simonsen Leal, who emphasised the importance of education as a foundation for long-term cooperation and mutual understanding. He highlighted FGV's role as a global platform for academic exchange and policy dialogue and reaffirmed the institution's commitment to promoting strategic partnerships that connect Brazil to key regions of the world, including the Gulf.

Marlos Lima, Director for International Affairs at FGV, noted that initiatives such as this dialogue with the UAE are essential for preparing future leaders to face global challenges with technical expertise, ethics, and a global perspective, and for strengthening international cooperation through education and knowledge-sharing.

The event provided a platform for open, forward-looking discussions, reinforcing the evolving Brazil-UAE partnership and reflecting FGV and the UAE Embassy's shared commitment to fostering high-level dialogue, strategic cooperation, and global engagement.