On Wednesday 15 September 2021, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP, was joined by His Excellency Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Emirati Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, to sign a bilateral Memorandum of Cooperation on Industrial and Advanced Technologies Collaboration.

The Memorandum seeks to enable greater collaboration between the UK and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on a broad range of shared priorities, including the development of our life sciences, space, hydrogen, and wider industrial sectors, including supply chain resilience, regulations and standards. The Memorandum will be delivered through government-to-government cooperation, as well as business and academic engagement, and promises to provide tangible outcomes for both countries. Engagement across these sectors will be further enhanced through the investment opportunities agreed in the Sovereign Investment Partnership.

The signing took place during the Secretary of State and His Excellency Dr Al Jaber’s first in-person meeting, as part of a wider Guest of Government visit to London by His Highness the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed. The Crown Prince met with the Prime Minister on 16 September. During this visit, the leaders jointly announced the new and ambitious UK-UAE Partnership for the Future, which will be strengthened by this Memorandum of Cooperation.

Speaking following the singing, UK Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said:

I was delighted to join His Excellency Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber in signing this important Memorandum, ensuring a close working relationship between the UK and UAE as both countries accelerate progress in research and development, better regulation and the transition to a greener planet.

Thank you, Madam President.

The United Kingdom would like to thank the Working Group for the presentation of its report today, and for the insights provided. We further recognise the volume of communications and requests for action handled by the Working Group.

Arbitrary detention is a hallmark of authoritarian regimes and its use is a tool of political intimidation. Arbitrary detention not only violates human rights, but also undermines the trust in institutions that keeps societies safe and open.

We know that persons in marginalised and vulnerable situations, as well as human rights defenders, journalists, and civil society activists are more often arbitrarily detained. We further recognise that persons who are arbitrarily detained are at greater risk of being subjected to other human rights violations.

This year, the United Kingdom has supported the Canadian-led Declaration against Arbitrary Detention in State-to-State relations, and we have committed to working with the G7 and other likeminded partners to end the practice.

Members of the Working Group,

What further steps can states take to work together to end the practice of arbitrary detention?

Thank you.

We, the Group of Seven, reaffirm our commitment to partnership with Tunisia as it develops the political and socio-economic structures needed to respond to the legitimate demands of its people for a better standard of living and honest, effective and transparent governance. We urge a swift return to a constitutional order, in which an elected parliament plays a significant role. We underline the urgent need to appoint a new head of government to form a capable Government able to address the immediate economic and health crises facing Tunisia. This will create space for an inclusive dialogue about proposed constitutional and electoral reforms.  

As this process takes shape, we call for continued public commitment to and respect for all Tunisians’ civil, political, social and economic rights, and to the rule of law. The sooner that President Kais Saied can convey a clear sense of the way forward that responds to the needs of the Tunisian people, the sooner Tunisia can focus on tackling the economic, health and social challenges facing the country. The Group of Seven remains committed to ensuring that shared democratic values remain central to our ongoing relationships.