The UAE’s industrial sector was in the spotlight on the second day of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (#GMIS2021) that also examined the latest global trends in advanced technologies that help build resilient economies.
Co-chaired by the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the summit explored the role of data and connectivity in shaping the future of supply chains, green manufacturing, sustainable energy, and climate action.
Omar Suwaina Al Suwaidi, Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, opened the day with the announcement that the Ministry will adopt the Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI), the global standard used by the World Economic Forum (WEF) to assess digital maturity, for the UAE’s industrial sector.
His remarks were followed by keynotes from Dr. Alexander Van der Bellen, President of the Republic of Austria, who joined the summit virtually, and Cham Prasidh, Minister of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation of Cambodia, who delivered the speech on behalf of the country’s Prime Minister.
The closing ceremony, moderated by Simin Yazdgerdi Curtis, President, CEO and Founder of the American Middle East Institute (AMEI), witnessed the launch of GMIS America, announced by Namir Hourani, Managing Director of GMIS. The inaugural edition of the annual event will take place in 2022 in Pittsburgh as a homage to a city that has rebounded from significant industrial challenges. The announcement was followed by keynote speeches from Diane Farrell, Acting Undersecretary for International Trade at the US Department of Commerce, and Thomas Wolf, Governor of Pennsylvania.
The session wrapped up with a panel discussion between Michael Lordi, CEO of Elliott Group – a Pennsylvania-based turbomachinery company, Petra Mitchell, President and CEO of Catalyst Connection and Board Member of the Advanced Robotics in Manufacturing (ARM) Institute, and Danny Sebright President of the US-UAE Business Council. Bill Flanagan, Chief Corporate Relations Officer at the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, and Audrey Russo, President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Technology Council, joined the panel virtually.
#GMIS2021 was part of the six-day GMIS Week that runs from 22 to 27 November. The GMIS Week includes the Global Prosperity Conference and the Green Chain Conference exploring alternative and renewable energy on 24 November, and country-focused conferences in partnership with the UK, Australia, and Italy on 24 and 25 November. Throughout the week, the Summit is also running an exhibition to highlight the UAE government’s ‘Make it in the Emirates’ campaign, a first-of-its-kind initiative to encourage local and international investors, developers and innovators to benefit from the facilities and incentives offered by the country’s industrial sector.