UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno held talks in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday to deepen economic and investment cooperation, following Chad’s announcement that it had secured $20.5 billion in funding for its national development plan, Vision Chad 2030.
The meeting at Qasr Al Bahr Palace took place after the conclusion of the UAE–Chad Trade and Investment Forum, where officials and business leaders from both countries discussed expanding partnerships in key sectors, including energy, agriculture, mining, textiles, tourism, education, and manufacturing.
During the forum, more than 40 memoranda of understanding were signed between Emirati and Chadian private-sector companies, with participation from over 2,000 officials, investors, and business leaders.
Chad’s newly secured funding — amounting to two-thirds of the total $30 billion required for its development plan — was supported by both public and private entities as well as international financial institutions, including the World Bank, Islamic Development Bank, African Development Bank, Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, and Afreximbank.
Sheikh Mohamed reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to strengthening development partnerships across Africa, emphasizing sustainable growth and mutual prosperity. President Déby hailed the financing milestone as a “major step” toward achieving the goals of Chad 2030, which encompasses 268 projects and 17 reform programs aimed at achieving long-term economic and social transformation.
In a related development, the International Monetary Fund approved a $625 million loan program for Chad in July to support macroeconomic stability and structural reforms over four years, underscoring growing international confidence in the country’s development trajectory.
