DUBAI: The World Governments Summit (WGS) 2024, held in Dubai under the theme ‘Shaping Future Governments’, hosted the Industry and Advanced Technology Forum, which aims to shape industrial pathways by fostering knowledge exchange, promoting strategic partnerships, and providing insights on advanced industrial technologies.
Organised by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), in cooperation with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), the forum addressed global challenges and solutions in the development of quality infrastructure, as well as its role in achieving inclusive and sustainable industrial development. It shed light on the ‘Make it in the Emirate initiative’ and its role in enhancing the competitiveness of local products and enhancing the resilience and sustainability of supply chains.
Sessions held as part of this Forum saw the participation of Dr. Farah Al Zarooni, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Standards and Regulations Sector, MoIAT; Osama Amir Fa
dhel, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Industrial Accelerators Sector at MoIAT; Jo Cops, President, International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), Ciyong Zou, Deputy Director-General and Managing Director, UNIDO, Ramy Zaki, CEO, Multinational Companies Business Group and Ahmed Al Naqbi, CEO of Emirates Development Bank (EDB).
With a focus on the role of quality infrastructure as a key enabler of international trade and innovation, discussions at the forum aimed to shape policies that enhance its contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the realm of industrial sustainability and development. Other areas of focus included the UAE’s attractive business environment, incentives and enablers, competitive financing and credit insurance, as well as competitive advantages such as the logistics and quality infrastructure, which make up the main pillars that ‘Make it in the Emirates’ leverages to promote industrial investment in the country.
Dr. Al Zarooni said, ‘The
ministry is committed to enhancing quality infrastructure in line with its strategic objectives. The quality infrastructure ecosystem, which comprises standards, accreditation, and conformity, is fundamental to facilitating trade, creating an attractive business environment for local and international investors, as well as expanding access to global markets. This further bolsters the growth and competitiveness of our national industries, strengthening the UAE’s position as a pioneering nation of resilient and sustainable quality infrastructure.’
She added, ‘The UAE ranked first in the MENA region and 11th globally in UNIDO’s 2022 Quality Infrastructure for Sustainable Development Index report, which demonstrates its commitment to aligning with global best practices and advancing the ecosystem.’
The Industry and Advanced Technology Forum seeks to boost the industrial sector’s contribution to decarbonisation in line with the UAE Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative, as well as support the objectives of the N
ational Strategy for Industry and Advanced Technology, Operation 300bn.
By hosting the forum, the ministry seeks to accelerate the adoption of sustainability practices into industrial processes in line with Sustainable Development Goal No. 9, which calls for building resilient infrastructure, promoting sustainable industrialisation, and fostering innovation.
Osama Amir Fadhel, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Industrial Accelerators Sector at MoIAT, said, “Make it in the Emirates supports the objectives of the National Strategy for Industry and Advanced Technology, Operation 300bn. The initiative is an open invitation to international investors, innovators and industrialists to benefit from the UAE’s enablers, incentives, and innovative financing and credit solutions.”
‘The ministry’s integrated model of flexible legislation, initiatives, programmes, enablers and incentives contributed to achieving 30% of the National Strategy for Industry and Advanced Technology’s target of increasing the industrial sect
or’s contribution to GDP, recording a projected AED197 billion by the end of 2023,’ he added.
Source: Emirates News Agency
