The Sheikh accompanied by his 20-man delegation arrived on a private aircraft and stayedfor 2 ½ hours. In that short time, he met with State Minister Sandra Pierantozzi and President Johnson Toribiong at the Palau Pacific Resort.
Pierantozzi said that the visit was due to her invitation to the Sheikh during theInternational meeting in Abu Dhabi.
Palau is part of the Sheikh’s flying visit to the Pacific countries.
The minister said it that meeting the Sheikh agreed to visit Palau and other island countries in the Pacific to know the countries needs for renewable energy.First established in January 2009 in Germany, the IRENA aims “to promote the widespread and increased adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy.” It is an international organization committed to advocate rapid development of renewable energy worldwide.
The use of renewable energy will help reduce greenhouse gas emission thereby lessening global warming and other negative environmental changes.Although 142 countries have signed the IRENA statute, it will take at least 25 countries to ratify — or have their legislature approve — it before it takes effect. Palau was the eighth country to ratify the IRENA statute.“The Sheikh is very much interested in our energy needs to help us bring down cost of fuel,” Pierantozzi said.The talks also delved on proposed waiver of visas to encourage tourists from UAE to come to Palau .
Pierantozzi said the Sheikh also vowed to come back to Palau to experience diving.
The diplomatic relationship between the two countries was forged in 2009.
UAE and Morocco are the first Arab nations, Palau signed a diplomatic relationship with.
The Sheikh then sat down with President Toribiong in which the Palau leader gave the country’s full support to the IRENA.
The president added that towards the end of the meeting, the Sheikh made a proposal to invest in the country.
The investment will be on a high-end resort however the Sheikh expressed apprehension on how safe it is to invest in the country.
“He was concerned whether it is safe to invest here,” the president said.
Concerns the UAE leader raised were on protection of investments and double taxation.
The president said that they will work on a report explaining the country’s policies towards investment and taxation.
The president also added that UAE is also willing to help Palau in the conservation of dugongs (sea cow).
The Sheikh also visited Tonga and Papua New Guinea in hisBoeing 737 -800, accompanied by two smaller security aircraft.
The delegation arrive at 2p.m. and left the country at 4:30 p.m. to go back to UAE.
The Sheikh was accompanied by UAE Minister of State Reem Al Hasimy, Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Khalid Al Gaith.
The Sheikh is the sonof the founder of UAE, the First President, Emir (ruler) of Abu Dhabi, Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
