Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Masdar City’s Business Potential Showcased in Sweden



Sweden’s Urban Sustainable Companies Urged to Utilise
Masdar City’s ‘Future Build’ Green Building Materials Portal
at Stockholm and Malmö Roadshows

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 4 May, 2011 – Masdar City organised a series of roadshows

for the business community in Sweden this week. Attendees were briefed first-

hand on the key strengths of one of the world's most sustainable developments

that is emerging in Abu Dhabi as a global research and development hub and

demonstration platform for clean and sustainable technologies.

Titled ‘The Benchmark for Sustainable Urban Development: Masdar City’, the

roadshows were held on 2 May in Stockholm and 4 May in Malmö. Organised by

the Swedish Trade Council in cooperation with the Sweden-based business network

Sustainable Business Hub and Stockholm Environmental Technology Center,

the two events attracted major Swedish urban sustainable companies as well as

international leaders in clean technology.

‘The Future Build’ initiative (www.thefuturebuild.com), a new green building

materials portal from Masdar City, was also presented to Swedish businesses during

the two events.

Mohamed Al Fardan, Head of Licensing & Permitting, City Zone, Masdar City,

offered a presentation on ‘The business-friendly platform to target emerging

cleantech markets’, while Richard Reynolds, Supply Chain Manager, Masdar

City, offered his insights on ‘How to capitalise on the business opportunities for

renewable energy and sustainability technologies in the Middle East and North

Africa region’.

The events in both cities also witnessed individual meetings between members of

Swedish Trade Council and the high-level Masdar City delegation. The meetings

provided business leads that could result in productive deals targeting the cleantech

market in the Middle East and North Africa region, which is expected to be worth

US$100 billion by 2014.

Mohamed Al Fardan said: “Masdar City aims to bring together government and

academic institutions, multi-national and start-up businesses, as well as ambitious

and motivated individuals within one of the world’s first cities for sustainable

living. It will be a green urban development offering services such as consultancy,

testing and certification, assessment tools and databases, as well as training and

education, in addition to product co-development.

“Partnering with industry leaders including Siemens and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

(MHI), we have created a platform for global technology companies to develop and

accelerate next-generation technologies. We welcome more Swedish companies to

be actively involved with the SymbioCity office at Masdar City.”

A Swedish concept for holistic and sustainable urban development, SymbioCity

– Sustainability by Sweden – promotes synergies and creates symbiosis by

integrating different technologies and city functions, to bring about environmental

and economic benefits. The SymbioCity office in Masdar City was inaugurated by

Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden earlier this year.

Al Fardan added: “Masdar City in Abu Dhabi serves as one of the most important

regional hubs for companies that operate in renewable energy and sustainable

technologies to set up operations.

“The roadshows in Stockholm and Malmö offered us an opportunity to gauge the

enthusiasm of Swedish businesses that are pioneers in sustainable products and

solutions, to set up operations in Abu Dhabi.”

Masdar City, an integrated business unit of the Masdar initiative, represents Abu

Dhabi’s vision to advance renewable energy and sustainable technologies through

education, research and development, investment, commercialisation and adaption.

About Masdar
Masdar is Abu Dhabi’s multi-faceted initiative advancing the development, commercialisation
and deployment of renewable and alternative energy technologies and solutions. The company
serves as a link between today’s fossil fuel economy and the energy economy of the future -
developing the “greenprint” for how we will live and work tomorrow. Backed by the stability and
reputation of the Mubadala Development Company, an investment vehicle of the government of
Abu Dhabi, Masdar is dedicated to the emirate’s long-term vision for the future of energy.
For more information about the Masdar Initiative, please visit: www.masdar.ae

About Masdar City:
Masdar City is an emerging clean-technology cluster located in what aims to be one of the
world’s most sustainable cities. This special economic zone in Abu Dhabi seeks to become
a global centre for innovation, research, product development and light manufacturing in the
fields of renewable energy and sustainable technologies. Leading multinational companies
in the cleantech sector, as well as small- and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurial
start-ups will locate R&D labs, marketing offices and headquarters in the city. The International
Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) will base its headquarters in the city, while GE will build its
first Ecomagination Centre at Masdar City.
For more information about Masdar City, please visit: www.masdarcity.ae

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