SMF, SBF and KEZAD Group signed a Letter of Intent for industrial cooperation
The 17th Abu Dhabi–Singapore Joint Forum (ADSJF) was held on 28 September 2026, with the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF), Singapore Business Federation (SBF) and Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KEZAD Group) signing a Letter of Intent (LOI) to explore the establishment of a Singapore–Abu Dhabi Industrial Corridor.
SMF Group CEO Mr. Wayne Yap represented SMF at the signing alongside Mr. Shamsher Zaman, Chairman of the SBF Middle East Business Group, and Mr. Abdullah Al Hameli, CEO of KEZAD Group and Economic Cities & Free Zones, AD Ports Group.
The LOI established a 12-month pilot framework intended to support the expansion of three to five Singapore companies into the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The initiative will focus on selected sectors, including food manufacturing and food security, healthcare and life sciences, advanced manufacturing and industrial solutions, and green and energy-transition technologies.
Under the proposed framework, SMF and SBF will identify manufacturers with potential for expansion into the UAE, conduct market validation and facilitate partner matchmaking. KEZAD Group will support the initiative through its logistics and industrial infrastructure, as well as access to markets in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions.
The industrial corridor initiative was presented as a mechanism to provide Singapore manufacturers with practical pathways for exploring the UAE market and developing business partnerships. The participating organisations will work within the 12-month pilot period to assess opportunities and facilitate market entry for selected companies.
The signing took place as part of the 17th ADSJF, which provides a platform for Singapore and Abu Dhabi stakeholders to discuss economic and business opportunities.
For SMF, the initiative was intended to connect international business engagement with opportunities for manufacturers to explore market access and expansion in the UAE.
Source: Singapore Manufacturing Federation
