The Ajman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Etihad Energy Services Company (Etihad ESCO), with a view to enhancing joint cooperation and developing programs and plans aimed at encouraging private sector establishments, including factories and companies that are members of the Ajman Chamber, to adopt clean and alternative energy solutions, especially solar energy. MoU was signed at the Ajman Chamber's headquarters by H.E. Salem Al Suwaidi, Director-General of Ajman Chamber, Dr. Waleed Alnuaimi, CEO of Etihad ESCO, in the presence of Nasser Al Dhafri, Executive Director of the Member Support and Innovation Sector at Ajman Chamber. MoU outlines the development of joint relations between the two parties and cooperation in directing and supporting private sector establishments to adopt solutions for the use of clean energy by providing technical consultations and feasibility studies for projects using solar energy and its benefits, as well as organizing field visits to factories and companies in Ajman to inform them of the best practices in the field of clean energy use and rationalization of consumption, implementing a series of educational and awareness workshops for business owners, conducting studies, and benefiting from the technical expertise of the Etihad ESCO. H.E. Al Suwaidi stressed the importance of joint cooperation between the Ajman Chamber and the Etihad ESCO with the aim of providing advisory and technical support to the Ajman Chamber's member establishments from the private sector on benefiting from the uses of clean energy, in addition to the educational and awareness role for business owners. This comes in line with the directions of the UAE and the declaration of H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, may Allah protect him, that 2023 is the "Year of Sustainability" in the UAE, in addition to the UAE preparations to host the “COP28”. He explained that the joint cooperation between the Ajman Chamber and the Etihad ESCO would contribute to reducing carbon emissions, reducing the negative impact on the environment and climate, and supporting efforts to conserve resources. He praised the rapid transformations in the UAE energy sector and the government's efforts to rely on renewable energy sources that have less impact on the environment through the implementation of a group of national projects in the field of energy production, in line with the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 to achieve a balance between the production and consumption with global environmental commitments and ensure keeping pace with sustainable economic growth, appreciating the role of the Etihad ESCO in supporting the country's directions in this field. Al Suwaidi stated that the Ajman Chamber is keen to provide proactive services to its member establishments in cooperation with its strategic partners and to encourage economic establishments to adopt social responsibility, standards, and requirements of sustainable development and the green economy. So that they can develop businesses and enhance their leading role in supporting a diversified future economy. For his part, Dr. Waleed Alnuaim praised the efforts of the Ajman Chamber to educate factories and companies about the importance of using clean energy and rationalizing consumption in general and presented the audience with a set of examples of best practices and experiences implemented on the ground, which had a direct impact on reducing financial costs and achieving sustainability. He added that the Etihad ESCO is keen to develop its relations with government and private agencies to enhance its leading role in increasing the rates of entities wishing to benefit from clean energy and rationalize consumption, in line with the UAE directions and in line with the goals of the Year of Sustainability.