Gulf news today........
UAE to host Irena HQ
By Abbas Al Lawati, Staff ReporterLast updated: June 29, 2009, 23:35
Sharm Al Shaikh, Egypt: The UAE has become the first developing country to host a major international organisation with Abu Dhabi becoming home to the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena).
The Irena headquarters will be located in Masdar City, which is currently under construction. Masdar City will be the world's first carbon-neutral, zero-waste city completely powered by renewable energy.
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, congratulated President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the country.
Germany and Austria withdrew their bids after realising an overwhelming majority of nations was going to vote for the UAE.
Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, thanked the countries that extended their support for the UAE. He particularly appreciated the stance of Germany and Austria, which supported the UAE's quest to host the headquarters.
Call me a cynic, but I would really not be surprised if in the weeks to come there were announcements about some major investments in Germany and Austria..........
Germany, Austria and some of the other "overwhelming majority of nations" too.
ReplyDeleteMasdar City is being constructed right behind where I live.
It is a giant PR move from one of the largest petroleum exporting nations in the world. It's kind of like how the major motorways are lined with 50 meter wide strips of impeccable greenery on ether side but there is nothing but sand beyond that.
Me cynical.....Nah!!