I2U2 unveils business collab, invites pvt sector proposals

THE GROUPING MEMBERS ALSO LAUNCHED AN OFFICIAL 12U2 WEBSITE TO BOOST PARTNERSHIP

- Prashant Jha

India, Israel, the US and the UAE, the four countries which together constitute the 12U2 grouping, launched a uniquely structured 12U2 business coalition, also termed private enterprise partnership, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Thursday.

Separately, Washington DC, Tel Aviv, Delhi and Abu Dhabi also launched an official 12U2 site and called for project proposals in seven domains-water, climate/ energy, transportation, space, health, food security, technology preferably centered around West Asia, Africa, South Asia and the US.

Announced in the backdrop of the recent unveiling of the IndiaMiddle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), the 12U2's push to involve the private sector, with the US taking the lead, is seen as yet another move to deepen economic integration between South Asia and West Asia. The four official leads of the grouping include Dammu Ravi, secretary (economic relations) in the ministry of external affairs, Ronen Levi, the director general of Israel's ministry of foreign affairs, Ahmed Ali El Sayegh, minister of state for foreign affairs of UAE, and Jose Fernandez, the US undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment.