Abu Dhabi: Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment, Maria Panayiotou, conducted a series of strategic meetings in Abu Dhabi aimed at bolstering bilateral cooperation with the UAE in critical areas such as water management, climate adaptation, and rural development.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the Minister attended the World Utilities Conference and held separate bilateral discussions with Amna Al Dhaha, the UAE Minister of Climate Change, and Yasser bin Ibrahim Humaidan, the Minister of Electricity and Water Resources of Bahrain. Panayiotou expressed gratitude to the UAE for supplying Cyprus with mobile desalination units, a gesture she cited as a testament to the strong bilateral relationship and cooperative spirit between the two nations.
The Minister emphasized the need to deepen collaboration in natural resource management, environment, and energy. Highlighting the potential of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Arab World, she argued that these regions could significantly contribute to regional stability and development. She also discussed the upcoming EU Cyprus Presidency in 2026, during which a Ministerial Meeting is planned to further the Cyprus Initiative on Climate Change in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.
In her talks with Bahrain’s Minister of Water Resources and Electricity, Panayiotou focused on reviving the process to sign a Memorandum of Understanding in the water sector, pending since 2021. She noted the shared climate-related challenges faced by Cyprus and Bahrain, particularly concerning climate change and sea level rise, which present opportunities for deeper cooperation.
During the World Conference, Panayiotou participated in two high-level ministerial discussions. In one panel, she reiterated the European Union’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and highlighted Cyprus’s updated National Energy and Climate Plan. In another discussion, she stressed the importance of cross-border cooperation in water and energy issues, advocating for unified planning to address critical challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Additionally, Panayiotou visited the Cyprus pavilion at the 2025 Work Utilities Congress, organized by the Cyprus Trade Centre in Dubai, which featured representatives from the Department of Water Development, the Cyprus Electricity Authority, and the Solar Energy Manufacturers Association.