SHARJAH: The inaugural ‘Regional Data and Community Development Forum’, organised by the Department of Statistics and Community Development (DSCD) from 9th to 10th October, will focus on the significant role of data in driving economic growth, community development, and shaping planning and decision-making policies. Key topics will cover sectors such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, sustainability, technology, and business.
In the business and economic sectors, speakers in the two-day event at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre will explore how data can be leveraged to forecast future trends across various industries, develop flexible and efficient labour market policies, enhance workplace environments and productivity, and support entrepreneurs and small to medium-sized enterprises.
The event will feature expert-led panel discussions with key government officials and decision-makers from both the public and private sectors, alongside prominent business figures and entrepreneurs.
On the in
augural day, the forum will tackle pressing issues related to unemployment and the labour market in a panel discussion titled ‘Overcoming Unemployment with a Click’ on the ‘Futuristic Data’ Stage. This session will examine how governments can access the necessary data to predict workforce trends, the collaborative efforts needed to establish a comprehensive data collection and analysis ecosystem, and how public-private partnerships can be strengthened to enhance labour market forecasting.
The session will also explore how labour market data analysis can reduce unemployment, alongside the unique challenges faced in the Arab region, with a focus on strategies to overcome these obstacles. The discussion will also highlight ways to raise awareness and shift societal perspectives away from traditional occupations, to tackle unemployment more effectively.
Day 1 will also feature a panel discussion titled ‘4-Day Work Week: Data Settles the Productivity Debate’ in the ‘Innovative Data’ Stage. This session will show
case both local and international experiences, demonstrating how data can guide the improvement of workplace environments and employee well-being. It will focus on how data insights can be turned into actionable decisions, emphasising the importance of workplace quality surveys and research to support continuous improvements and deriving innovative, data-driven solutions to enhance productivity and employee well-being.
On the second day, the session ‘Why do Businesses Fail?’ in the ‘Futuristic Data’ Stage will highlight the challenges SMEs face in effectively using and benefiting from data. The session will explore ways to improve data access for businesses, particularly SMEs and startups, and discuss how they can leverage customer data platforms (CDPs) to enhance their operations. The discussion will also address how entrepreneurs and startup companies can draw insights from the experiences of large corporations.
In collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCW
A), the forum will host a session on the second day titled ‘Integration of Traditional and Non-Traditional Data for Labour Market Forecasting in the Arab Region’. This session will focus on how traditional data, such as government statistics and official records, can be combined with non-traditional sources, such as social media data, to provide accurate insights for strategic decision-making. The discussion will also explore how this integration can help anticipate future challenges and offer innovative solutions to boost economic opportunities in the Arab region.
The Regional Data and Community Development Forum is a premier platform for harnessing data to benefit individuals and communities. Bringing together governments, decision-makers, public and private institutions, economic experts, entrepreneurs, researchers, and data specialists, the forum offers extensive regional experience in sharing knowledge and insights. It also provides a unique opportunity to consolidate efforts and develop innovative stra
tegies that enhance the social impact of data, ultimately improving quality of life and supporting sustainable development goals.
Source: Emirates News Agency
