UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber chaired the second meeting of the Industry Development Council, a body which creates conducive business environment for local and international investors.
Dr Al Jaber who is also the chairman of the Industry Development Council reviewed recommendations made at the first meeting, reflected on progress in implementing them and discussed the development of a unified platform for industrial data.
The Industry Development Council is a platform for cooperation, coordination and integration among relevant authorities in the UAE’s industrial sector on the federal and local levels, and with the private sector.
Each emirate showcased the incentives it offers to stimulate the sector, support the growth of national industries, enhance their competitiveness, alongside numerous issues to streamline the business environment and reduce fees for industrial investors.
Dr Al Jaber said, “In line with the vision of President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the government’s commitment to accelerate the growth of the national industrial sector, we are working on fast-tracking mechanisms for empowerment, integration, and partnership among the public and private sectors to support national projects.”
He said, “This is in alignment of our goals of creating an attractive business environment for local and international investors in the industrial sector and positioning the UAE as a global destination for pioneering future industries.”
Al Jaber said, “We are working on enhancing integration and partnership among federal and local government sectors and the private sector.”
He added, “The Industrial Development Council teams have set clear strategic aims at the national level, which will be confirmed in the next few weeks, as part of the government’s goals to intensify efforts and fast-track opportunities and investment projects in the industrial sector to boost the national economy.”
He continued, “The Industry Development Council is working to enhance the UAE’s competitive position globally, implementing initiatives, and proposing and drafting policies, laws, legislations and strategies that contribute to attaining sustainable growth and promoting national added value.”
Al Jaber sad, “These efforts aim to attract foreign direct investment, advance quality infrastructure and enhance consumer confidence across local, regional and international markets in products manufactured in the UAE.”
Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade and Vice President of the Industry Development Council said, “The Council’s teams and their ambitious programs will contribute enormously to enhancing the role the industrial sector plays within the national economy, as it is a key driver for growth.”
He said, “They also target improving the capacity and competitiveness of products manufactured in the UAE across local markets, increasing export capabilities in foreign markets, and establishing a stimulating work system for setting up and developing SMEs.”
Dr Al Zeyoudi said, “The meeting discussed the teams’ developments (data, policies, legislations, and industrial enablers), and the level of their achievements since the first meeting.”
He said, “We also discussed the developments of the reduction of the cost of doing business in the industrial sector, the developments on the industrial data platform and the quality data that this project will provide to support decision-making.”
He added, “We also discussed the recommendation to conduct an integrated national census project for the industrial sector that would cover all the emirates and their free zones and provide key data for industrial facilities in the country.”
Dr Al Zeyoudi added,” It would also study the cost of transportation for factory trucks cross the emirates with the aim of reducing the burdens on the industrial sector.”
The council also reviewed the policy of valuing waste and limiting its export, given that factories can reuse waste, such as iron and aluminum through recycling, which saves materials, reduces costs and improves sustainability.
The Industry Development Council also discussed the preparations of the Make in the Emirates Forum that will take place on June 21 and 22 hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology and its strategic partners, represented by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and the Department of Economic Development in Abu Dhabi.
The Forum will take place at the ADNOC Business Centre in Abu Dhabi and will showcase a number of opportunities and investment projects and will witness multiple agreements and MoUs between investors and major Emirati and international industrial companies.