A delegation from the UAE representing various national stakeholders in nuclear industry, is taking part in the International Conference on the IAEA Technical Cooperation Programme: 'Sixty Years and Beyond-Contributing to Development’.

The three-day event, starting today and concluding on the 1st of June, is being held at the headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Austria.

Led by Hamad Ali Al-Ka'abi, Permanent Representative of the UAE to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the delegation is taking part to highlight UAE-IAEA cooperation with the UAE nuclear energy programme, particularly with the Agency’s Technical Cooperation Department, which has contributed to progress in numerous developmental sectors in the UAE, through the application of nuclear science and technology. The delegation included representatives from The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation, FANR, Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, ENEC, and others.

Since joining the IAEA in 1976, the UAE has been cooperating with the agency based on its national developmental priorities. The cooperation spans across different sectors such as training and capacity building, nuclear energy infrastructure development as well as use of nuclear applications in healthcare, agriculture, environmental monitoring and others.

"This year marks decades of cooperation since the UAE joined the IAEA. We have had a fruitful partnership with the agency. We cooperated in many technical projects that serve our nation," said Al-Ka'abi. "The UAE will continue to work with the agency to foster its collaboration and further support the safe use of nuclear energy and techniques to address development needs in the country," he added.

The UAE’s cooperation with the IAEA is guided by the UAE Vision 2021 which seeks to make the nation among the best countries through various pillars such as social development and economy. The IAEA-UAE accomplishes some of these pillars through achieving a competitive knowledge economy, first-rate education system, world-class healthcare and sustainable development.

Al-Ka'abi will take part in a session addressing the 7th goal of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on "affordable and clean energy". The UAE will present its success story to other member states on building national capacity to manage nuclear power plants.

The conference, the first to be held, aims to highlight the achievements of the IAEA’s Technical Cooperation programme in supporting member states over the last decades in meeting developmental priorities through the peaceful application of nuclear science and technology, strengthening partnerships with states as well as exploring innovative approaches to further improve and strengthen impact and sustainability of the programme.

A Youth Circle will be held on the side-lines of the event where a number of FANR’s young employees will take part, along with national stakeholders, to discuss issues related to young professionals in the nuclear field.