Masdar City organised a series of roadshows for the business community in Sweden this week. Attendees were briefed first-hand on the key strengths of one of the world’s most sustainable developments that is emerging in Abu Dhabi as a global research and development hub and demonstration platform for clean and sustainable technologies.

Titled ‘The Benchmark for Sustainable Urban Development: MasdarCity’,the roadshowswere heldon 2 May in Stockholm and 4 May in Malmö. Organised by the Swedish Trade Council in cooperation with the Sweden-based business network Sustainable Business Hub and Stockholm Environmental Technology Center,the two events attractedmajor Swedish urban sustainable companies as well as international leaders in clean technology.

‘The Future Build’ initiative(www.thefuturebuild.com), a new green building materials portalfrom Masdar City, was also presented to Swedish businesses during the two events.

Mohamed Al Fardan, Head of Licensing & Permitting, City Zone, Masdar City, offered a presentation on ‘The business-friendly platform to target emerging cleantech markets’,while Richard Reynolds,Supply Chain Manager, Masdar City, offered his insights on ‘How to capitalise on the business opportunities for renewable energy and sustainability technologies in the Middle East and North Africa region’.

The events in both cities also witnessed individual meetings between members of Swedish Trade Council and the high-level Masdar City delegation. The meetings provided business leads that could result in productive deals targeting the cleantech market in the Middle East and North Africa region, which is expected to be worth US$100 billion by 2014.

Mohamed Al Fardan said:“Masdar City aims to bring together government and academic institutions,multi-national and start-up businesses, as well as ambitious and motivated individuals within one of the world’s first cities for sustainable living.It will be a green urban development offeringservices such as consultancy, testing and certification, assessment tools and databases,as well astraining andeducation, in addition to product co-development.

“Partnering with industry leaders including Siemens and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), we have created a platform for global technology companies to develop and accelerate next-generation technologies.We welcome more Swedish companies to be actively involved with theSymbioCityoffice at Masdar City.”

A Swedish concept for holistic and sustainable urban development,SymbioCity – Sustainability by Sweden – promotes synergies and creates symbiosis by integrating different technologies and city functions, to bring about environmental and economicbenefits.The SymbioCity office in Masdar City was inaugurated by Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden earlier this year.

Al Fardan added: “Masdar City in Abu Dhabi serves as one of the most important regional hubs for companies that operate in renewable energy and sustainable technologies to set up operations.

“The roadshows in Stockholm and Malmö offered us an opportunity to gauge the enthusiasm of Swedish businesses that are pioneers in sustainable products and solutions, to set up operations in Abu Dhabi.”

Masdar City, an integrated business unit of the Masdar initiative, represents Abu Dhabi’s vision to advance renewable energy and sustainable technologies through education, research and development, investment, commercialisation and adaption.
 

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