The Brisbane Forum for Networking and Economic Partnerships Opens New Horizons for the Business Communities of Both Countries

The Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry has organised the Brisbane Forum for Networking and Economic Partnerships, bringing together a high-level economic delegation from the Australian city of Brisbane alongside representatives of government entities and the business community in the Emirate. The forum aimed to explore new avenues for investment and trade cooperation, while further strengthening bilateral relations between Abu Dhabi and Brisbane – the capital of Queensland and Australia’s third-largest city.

The Australian delegation was led by Councillor Fiona Cunningham, Deputy Mayor of Brisbane, Civic Cabinet Chair for Finance and City Governance and Councillor for Coorparoo . She was accompanied by more than 40 representatives from Brisbane’s business and government sectors. The visit sought to identify opportunities for enhanced economic collaboration and to deepen bilateral relations, reaffirming the Abu Dhabi Chamber’s role as a key partner in advancing international cooperation and supporting the continued growth of the Emirate’s business ecosystem.

This forum forms part of the Abu Dhabi Chamber’s ongoing efforts to reinforce the Emirate’s global economic presence and to strengthen cooperation with dynamic international markets. The initiative supports private-sector growth, attracts high-value investments, and contributes to Abu Dhabi’s journey towards economic diversification – in line with the Chamber’s 2025–2028 Roadmap.

Growing Trade Relations

Australia remains one of the UAE’s most significant trading partners in the Asia-Pacific region, with economic ties between the two countries recording notable growth in recent years. In the first half of 2025, the value of bilateral non-oil trade increased by 33.4% compared with the same period in 2024, reaching USD 3 billion.

With the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the UAE and Australia now in force, the value of bilateral trade is expected to rise from USD 4.2 billion in 2024 to over USD 10 billion by 2032 – a reflection of the robust economic relationship and the expanding opportunities for cooperation between the two nations.

According to the International Trade Centre (ITC), the UAE has strong export potential to the Australian market in sectors such as aluminium products, chemicals, perfumes, cosmetics, processed foods, and plastics – creating new opportunities to boost trade exchange across both industrial and service sectors.

H.E. Dr. Ali bin Harmal Al Dhaheri, First Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Chamber, said:
“This forum reflects the depth of relations between Abu Dhabi and Australia and reaffirms our ongoing commitment to fostering collaboration with Brisbane as a promising economic hub in the region. The meeting opens new horizons for partnerships between private-sector institutions in both countries and strengthens our shared efforts to build a diversified and sustainable economy founded on innovation and knowledge exchange.”

He added: “The Abu Dhabi Chamber remains dedicated to supporting initiatives that strengthen economic relations, facilitate the exchange of expertise, and consolidate the Emirate’s standing as a trusted global partner and a key hub for trade and investment in the region and beyond.”

The Chamber reaffirmed its commitment to empowering the local business community to expand into international markets and to reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading regional and global centre for trade and investment – in line with the Emirate’s vision of building a resilient, integrated, and sustainable economy.

Councillor Fiona Cunningham, Deputy Mayor of Brisbane, emphasised the importance of the forum in enhancing communication channels between the business communities of Abu Dhabi and Brisbane. She noted that the event served as an effective platform to explore new areas of collaboration and to exchange expertise in innovation, sustainability, and infrastructure – thereby strengthening the growing economic relationship between the two cities and paving the way for future joint investments.

A Platform for Future Partnerships

The forum featured interactive sessions and direct meetings between Emirati and Australian companies to discuss opportunities for cooperation in sectors such as industry, clean energy, advanced technology, infrastructure, and tourism. The event also enabled an exchange of insights on mechanisms to promote bilateral investment and facilitate smoother trade flows between the two sides.