Safe and clean energy focus of Dubai WEF

The Dubai World Energy Forum (WEF), a three-day event to boost the international cooperation and exchange of expertise to ensure safe and clean sustainable energy, opened at the Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC) this week.
This is the first time the conference has been held outside the UN in New York and many world leaders and decision-makers are attending the event, which ends today (Wednesday).
“One and a half billion out of the world’s seven billion people are deprived of the electric energy, which represents a massive challenge for us, and we should all face this through cooperation and coordination among all the advanced and developing countries,” Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president, prime minister of the UAE and deputy ruler of Dubai, said in his opening speech.
“We hope that the UAE will be a role model,” he said congratulating the African leaders and representatives on holding the African Energy Summit on the sidelines of the WEF.
“This summit will contribute to changing to a new era of sustainable energy,” Ahmed bin Heli, deputy secretary general of the Arab League, said in his statement.
He hailed the role of the UAE under the leadership of President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and its effective cooperation with the international community in the humanitarian, social, economic and political issues, as well as supporting the international community in order to help the developing countries worldwide.
Before the conclusion of the inaugural session, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum signed on the document of the UN Declaration on Sustainable Energy.
The heads of delegations also signed the document.
Hamad Buamim, director general, Dubai Chamber, said: “Hosting this year’s World Energy Forum is a major achievement for Dubai and one that represents the emirate’s commitment to conserving energy for future generations.
“Our expectations for the WEF 2012 are high and we are confident that its outcome will help bring new innovation to the energy sectors of Dubai and the UAE, and help promote Dubai’s business opportunities to a global audience,” he said.