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Foreign Exchange

The emirate of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, has announced the most ambitious sustainability program ever launched by a government - an initial investment of US$15 billion in projects targeting solar, wind and hydrogen power; carbon reduction and management; sustainable development; education; manufacturing; and research and development.

The investment will be channeled through the Masdar Initiative, a company that aims to explore, develop and commercialize future energy sources. Masdar, which means "the source" in Arabic, will leverage the Abu Dhabi government's initial US$15 billion investment with joint ventures and other investment partners for a grand portfolio many times larger, comprised of projects in Abu Dhabi, the MENA region and globally.

Abu Dhabi has been a leader in the field of hydrocarbons for nearly half a century. One of Masdar's primary objectives is to build upon Abu Dhabi's energy leadership and develop an entirely new domestic economic sector built on energy innovation and intellectual property, thereby establishing the emirate as the regional and global center of future energy solutions.

"For nearly half a century, the emirate of Abu Dhabi has used its natural resources to contribute to growth, development and security - our own as well as that of other countries," says Masdar CEO Dr. Sultan Al Jaber. "Today, as global demand for energy continues to expand and as climate change becomes a real and growing concern, the time has come to look to the future. Our ability to adapt and respond to these realities will ensure that Abu Dhabi's global energy leadership as well as our own growth and development continues."

The $15 billion Masdar commitment announced today will be directed to the following areas:

• Investments
• Manufacturing Future Energy Solutions
• Education and R&D
• Carbon Management
• Sustainable Development & Planning
• Renewable Energy Infrastructure Projects

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