Day: October 16, 2021

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UAE, Israel review growing economic ties, agree on promoting tourism cooperation

ABU DHABI, Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and SMEs, met with the Israeli Tourism Minister Yoel Razvozov at the opening of the Israeli Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai to review advancing economic cooperation and increasing direct flights between the two nations.

The two ministers deliberated the prospects of further growing business opportunities across priority sectors, accelerating non-oil trade exchanges and diversifying bilateral investments in the post-pandemic phase.

“The UAE-Israeli relations are steadily growing and we’re determined to further develop them over the coming period,” Al Falasi said, noting that Expo 2020 Dubai represents a valuable opportunity for the Israeli businesses to benefit from the opportunities up for grabs during the global fair. He remarked that the non-oil trade exchanges between the two nations amounted to $700 million during the first year that followed the signing of the Abraham Accords Peace Agreement.

“The UAE tourist and hotel establishments have secured high occupancy rates over the past period, overtaking 10 of the world’s most-visited tourist destinations. An achievement that would not have been made but for the efforts made at the country level to stamp out the challenges triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic,” the minister said.

For his part the Israeli minister said, “On the occasion of the first anniversary of signing the Abraham Accords Peace Agreement, we affirm the impressive success achieved over the past period by the two nations specially at the tourist level.

“Despite the movement restrictions associated with the pandemic, the tourist exchanges between the two nations witnessed significant momentum, with around 250,000 Israeli tourists having visited the UAE over the past period. And we expect cooperation in this field to further grow over the coming period,” he said, noting that the tourist sector is a mainstay for the development of economic relations between the two countries.

Source: Emirates News Agency

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GITEX Global 2021 to host landmark gathering for Middle East & Africa government leaders

DUBAI, GITEX GLOBAL Leaders Vision, the definitive gathering for regional and national technology transformation, will redefine the technology roadmaps of the Middle East and Africa when it debuts at GITEX GLOBAL, the world’s largest and most interconnected technology event of 2021.

Taking place from 17th–19th October at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) in the 41st edition of GITEX GLOBAL, the conference will focus on the specific roadmaps of the Middle East and Africa through dedicated region- and country-specific sessions, and comes in the run-up to the UAE’s Golden Jubilee celebrations. GITEX GLOBAL Leaders Vision will bring together international government leaders who will share their technological accomplishments, collaborations, initiatives, and opportunities with the international community.

The conference features one of the most influential government innovation speaker lineups ever seen in the region with public sector industry regulators and government ministers set to discuss opportunities around sectors including artificial intelligence, the digital economy, Fourth Industrial Revolution applications, youth empowerment and human capital development.

Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, said, “GITEX GLOBAL Leaders Vision represents a landmark event in the bid to accelerate national transformations through technology across the Middle East and Africa, and comes as the UAE Projects of the 50 lay the foundations for an innovative, digitally driven economy. GITEX GLOBAL Leaders Vision will serve as a platform for essential knowledge exchange between countries and will create opportunities across a range of technological and economic spheres.”

Vision UAE – Projects of the 50.

On October 19th, GITEX GLOBAL Leaders Vision will see decision-makers turn their combined attention and expertise to the Projects of the 50 initiative, which aims to ignite a new era built on the UAE’s ability to attract global investment and talent, as well as being an international testbed for technologies and innovation.

Visitors will hear from influential UAE decision-makers including Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, Cabinet Member and Minister of Economy; Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications; Sarah bint Yousef Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Technology; Eng. Majed Sultan Al Mesmar, Director General, The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority; Dr Mohamed Abdelhameed Al Askar, Director General, Abu Dhabi Digital Authority; Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director General, Digital Dubai; Younus Al Nasser, Assistant Director General, Digital Dubai & CEO, Dubai Data Establishment, Salem Al Marri, Deputy Director General, Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, Wesam Lootah, CEO, Smart Dubai Government Establishment, Digital Dubai; and Khalfan Belhoul CEO, Dubai Future Foundation, among others.

Vision Kingdom of Saudi Arabia & GCC.

The conference’s second day on 18th October will dive into bold new projects central to the digital transformation of Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries, giving ministerial-level insight into initiatives that will drive their economic diversification.

Saudi Vision 2030’s ambitions will be put under the spotlight, and decision-makers will evaluate a multitude of government-led digital-first initiatives, and explore ways to usher in a knowledge-based, digital economy.

Government leaders will brainstorm how to unleash the power of the region’s creative sectors, including E-sports, its high potential fashion value chain, and embryonic culinary arts segment, and will hear from Dr. Amr Almaddah, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Saudi Arabia; Sultan Al Mutairi, Head of Vision Realisation Office, Ministry of Interior, Saudi Arabia; Dr Saoud Humaid Al Shoaili, Director-General, Policies and Governance, Ministry of Transportation, Communication and IT, Oman; Tala Fakhro, Chief Project Officer, Market and Strategy Intelligence and Policy Advocacy, Bahrain Economic Development Board; and Mayada Badr, CEO, Saudi Culinary Arts Commission, among others.

Vision Africa.

On 17th October, Vision Africa will unpack the bold national tech strategies and priorities of Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and Tunisia, exploring how country-specific programmes will play a critical role in forging a common vision for an integrated and inclusive digital society and economy across the continent. Decision-makers from the four nations will also examine ways to overcome barriers inhibiting the growth of Africa’s expanding startup communities, and visitors will hear from Dr. Amr S. Talaat, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Egypt; Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Nigeria; Dr. Nizar Ben Neji, Minister of Communication Technologies, Tunisia; Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ghana; Eng. Amr Mahfouz, Chief Executive Officer, Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) Assistant Minister for Growth and Development, MCIT, Egypt; Dr. Tonny K. Omwansa, CEO, Kenya National Innovation Agency, Professor Bitange Ndemo, Former ICT Secretary, Kenya and Eng. Kaburu Mwirichia, KoTDA Board Member, Konza Technologies.

GITEX GLOBAL Leaders Vision underpins GITEX GLOBAL’s standing as the world’s most complete experiential technology event of the year, uniting international innovators in artificial intelligence, 5G, cloud, big data, cybersecurity, Blockchain, quantum computing, Fintech, and immersive marketing. The all-encompassing technology showcase will be explored across six events – GITEX GLOBAL, Ai Everything, GITEX Future Stars, the Future Blockchain Summit, Fintech Surge and Marketing Mania.

“Dubai World Trade Centre is proud to host government leaders at the inaugural GITEX GLOBAL Leaders Vision, which will provide an unrivalled opportunity for national decision-makers to engage in co-collaboration opportunities that will help to define societies of the future,” said Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of Dubai World Trade Centre Authority (DWTCA) and Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM). “As countries in the Middle East and Africa regions aim to transition to knowledge-based economies and increase their ecosystems of innovation and entrepreneurship, GITEX GLOBAL 2021 is providing an unprecedented platform for government leaders to collaborate and engage in meaningful, future-defining dialogue.”

Source: Emirates News Agency

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Abu Dhabi Chamber, Angola discuss boosting trade cooperation

ABU DHABI, Mohamed Helal Al Mheiri, Director General of Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has received Victor Francisco Fernandes, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Angola, at the Chamber’s tower in Abu Dhabi, to discuss a number of topics of shared interest.

Albino Malungo, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Angola to the UAE, attended the meeting as well as Abu Dhabi Chamber Deputy Directors General Abdullah Ghurair Al Qubaisi and Helal Mohamed Al Hameli.

Both sides discussed boosting trade and economic cooperation between businesses operating in Abu Dhabi and Angola.

At the beginning of the meeting, Al Mheiri expressed his pleasure for receiving the Angolan delegation, saying that it would encourage businesses in both countries to form partnerships, especially that Angola is rich in natural resources, making it a perfect destination for promising investment opportunities.

The Director General expressed the Chamber’s readiness to provide all the facilities necessary to increase mutual cooperation and inform Emirati businesses about the economic environment in Angola.

Minister of Industry and Commerce of Angola expressed his delight for visiting the Abu Dhabi Chamber, saying that exchanged visits would boost cooperation between Emirati and Angolan entrepreneurs in all sectors and would allow foreign investors to benefit from the available resources in Angola including cotton, coffee and diamond.

Source: Emirates News Agency

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Abu Dhabi Customs showcases digital initiatives at GITEX 2021

ABU DHABI, The General Administration of Abu Dhabi Customs will showcase its new and innovative digital projects and initiatives during its participation under the auspices of the Abu Dhabi government at the “GITEX Technology Week 2021”, which will be held at the Dubai World Trade Center from 17 to 21 October.

During its participation, the General Administration of Customs in Abu Dhabi will launch a number of new smart strategic projects, in addition to reviewing its digital services through the “Tamm Digital Platform”, in line with the efforts of the Abu Dhabi government for digital transformation and achieving a qualitative leap in the concept of providing the government services and moving towards the digital future.

During the GITEX Technology Week 2021, the General Administration of Abu Dhabi Customs aims to establish more partnerships with major government and private technology companies, in order to enhance the customs work system through a highly developed digital customs environment that meets the aspirations of the investors and traders and contributes in facilitating the movement of trade and easily transferring the goods through the advanced customs ports of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Within its strategy for digital transformation, the General Administration of Abu Dhabi Customs has succeeded in accomplishing many smart customs projects, in addition to automating all its services through the “Tamm Digital Platform”, by relying on cloud and digital solutions, artificial intelligence and advanced technologies in completing customs transactions and developing the skills of its employees in all their functional specialties, especially the inspectors, observers and controllers.

Preemptive, readiness, and continuous development of the experience of customers and partners are essential pillars in strengthening the customs work system in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi through smart customs that moves forward with the rapid global developments in a way that enhances the movement of trade, especially the electronic commerce.

The Abu Dhabi Customs has accomplished the electronic linkage with more than 60 Local and Federal Agencies at the state level. The approvals automation project was recently accomplished by activating the electronic link with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, which comes as a continuation of the efforts regarding the automation of obtaining the necessary approvals to speed up the completion of customs clearance transactions through the digital channels in a way that enhances the flexibility of submission and access to services, which reflects positively on the investment environment in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the UAE in general.

Source: Emirates News Agency

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Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology showcases the nation’s standards capabilities

ABU DHABI, To mark World Standards Day on 14th October, the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) hosted a webinar to showcase the country’s advanced capabilities in quality infrastructure and awareness of the necessary role standards play in industrial and sustainable development.

Local and international officials and experts attended the webinar that was convened in line with the ministry’s mission to upgrade the UAE’s quality infrastructure and achieve its sustainable development commitments.

The virtual event witnessed the participation of Omar Suwaina Al-Suwaidi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, Eddy Njoroge, President of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), Farah Ali Al Zarouni, Acting Assistant Under-Secretary for the Standards and Legislation Sector in the Ministry, Dr. Ralph Sporer, Vice President of the International Electrotechnical Organisation (IEC), Dr. Scott Steedman, Executive Director of the British Standards Institutions (BSI), Dr. Oday Albuhamad, Director of Standards and Metrology, Gulf Standardisation Organisation (GSO), and several other experts and specialists from around the world.

Al Suwaidi noted that the theme of this year’s World Standards Day, “Shared Vision for a Better World” aligns with the UAE’s sustainability efforts and the nation’s ambition to become a global leader in all areas of sustainable development by 2071. The UAE Government is committed to applying thousands of international standards related to sustainability. It has also issued multiple standards in agriculture, energy, water, transportation, environment and hydrogen, developed to achieve sustainable development goals.

He said, “The development of standards serves the UAE’s Projects of the 50 in that they support our desire to incorporate innovation and advanced technology into our industrial sector. Standards are vital to increase the quality of products and services in the market and find dynamic solutions to global challenges. We are fully focused on nurturing the technologies of the future to stimulate growth, develop new industrial sectors and provide the optimum platform for experts, manufacturers, entrepreneurs and innovators from around the world.

“Through standards, the UAE’s industrial sector becomes more capable of competing globally as we seek to become a global industrial hub and a leading destination for future industries, in line with the objectives of Operation 300bn, the national strategy for industry and advanced technology.”

Al Suwaidi added, “The adoption of advanced technology and 4IR solutions also helps us to achieve tangible progress in the UN’s 17 sustainable development goals, especially the ninth goal that focuses on industry, innovation and infrastructure.”

Njoroge highlighted UAE’s pioneering experience in developing and complying with standards. He pointed out that the country has become a role model in quality infrastructure, a fact that was demonstrated during its successful efforts to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He added, “Governments, businesses and organisations have all been put under unexpected pressure. I am impressed by the way that ISO members such as the UAE have put into practice a more flexible, more adaptable way of working, maintaining their commitments to international standards development and continuing to support their stakeholders in benefitting from standards.”

He made a clear link between standards and the international effort to meet the UN’s SDGs, and highlighted the mapping tool they have developed that identifies the standards that give direct support to a specific SDG. “Every SDG is a call for action, but we can only get there if we work together.”

“On World Standards Day, the world needs a message of hope to mitigate the challenges of COVID-19 and to adhere to the 2030 deadline set for implementing the SDGs. We are calling on everyone to join together to build a better world that respects international standards, safety and security for all,” Njoroge said in conclusion.

During a presentation on the role of standards in overcoming industrial challenges in the post-COVID-19 era, Al Zarouni stressed that standards contribute to a sustainable industrial sector, which in turn supports the national economy by meeting the requirements of quality, safety and long-term, responsible growth, especially in priority industries.

Al Zarouni explained that sustainability is one of the goals of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, noting that the celebration of World Standards Day coincides with the UAE’s hosting of the Expo 2020 Dubai, which focuses on innovation and sustainable development from around the world.

The UAE has focused on the following goals: industry, innovation and infrastructure; green and affordable energy; and sustainable cities and communities, all of which are linked to the quality infrastructure that is supervised by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology in cooperation with its strategic partners in the public and the private sector.

Source: Emirates News Agency

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