IRENA Hosts First Meeting of its Permanent Representatives

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) hosted the first engagement of the Agency’s system of permanent representatives accredited to the Agency. At the meeting, held today in Abu Dhabi, the permanent representatives discussed pathways to accelerate the transition to renewable energy in their countries.

Permanent representatives to IRENA, included: H.E. Mr. Giorgio Starace, Ambassador for Italy; H.E. Mr. Dionyssios Zois, Ambassador for Greece; H.E. Mr. Ahmed Yousif Mohamed Elsiddig, Ambassador for Sudan; H.E. Mr. Michel Miraillet, Ambassador for France; H.E. Mr. Ihab Emam Hamouda, Ambassador for Egypt; H.E. Mr. Osman Moussa Darar, Ambassador for Djibouti; H.E. Mr. Abdulkadir Risku Salih, Ambassador for Ethiopia; Adnan Z. Amin, IRENA Director-General; H.E. Ambassador Nikolai von Schoepff, Ambassador for Germany; H.E. Mr. Ravindran Robin Nair, Ambassador for Fiji and H.E. Dr. Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Ambassador Extraordinary Plenipotentiary and Director, Directorate of Energy and Climate Change.

“This is a significant moment for IRENA and for the Agency’s system of permanent representation, an important pillar of the institution,” IRENA Director-General Adnan Z. Amin said at the meeting. “This body establishes a key platform to engage our growing membership in the shaping of our work.” He continued: “This is the first of many such meetings and we look forward to welcoming future permanent representatives from the more than160 countries with which IRENA is currently engaged.”

IRENA’s system of permanent representation allows its members to be engaged with the establishment and implementation of the Agency’s work programme. IRENA’s permanent representative system formed part of the United Arab Emirates ratification of the headquarters agreement with IRENA on 9 October 2013. In the future, IRENA will host the meetings of its permanent representatives at its new headquarters building in Masdar City, which the Agency intends to occupy later this year.