Sharjah 24 – WAM: Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology commended the UAE leadership’s wise vision and its direction to develop a sustainable and diversified economy for the next 50 years. The UAE, he said, has become a global model for economic development, built on competitive advantages and an advanced business ecosystem.

Dr Al Jaber made the remarks as he delivered the inaugural address of the 4th Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS) which was launched Monday in Dubai under the auspices of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and attended by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.

Al Jaber welcomed the audience and participants and then issued a call to fully leverage the potential of 4IR technologies, pointing to the initiatives launched by the UAE to accelerate their adoption across the industrial sector.

In his speech, Al Jaber also extended an open invitation to the world’s countries to collaborate with the UAE in its efforts to enhance international cooperation, invest in new opportunities and build a bright and prosperous global economy. He remarked that no economy exists in a vacuum, and that accelerating growth and progress requires synergies to create an effective and integrated industrial ecosystem.

Al Jaber highlighted the global industrial sector’s evolution, saying: "The first three industrial revolutions contributed to strengthening global GDP and raising it to historical levels. They also helped increase average life expectancy and multiplied average global income 15 times. We are currently witnessing the dawn of the Fourth Industrial Era, as 4IR technologies begin to advance the industrial sector and enhance its contribution to driving global growth and prosperity."

The Minister also discussed the impact of advanced technologies on efficiency, citing several examples, including additive manufacturing’s role in multiplying the productivity of numerous sectors over the past five years. Machine learning technologies have also contributed to developing vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic, accelerating clinical trials and, as a result, saving many thousands of lives. He underscored the ability of advanced technologies and artificial intelligence to generate positive change.

Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber explained that the UAE’s national industrial strategy focuses on sectors that contribute to producing high added value. It is also centers on diversifying the economy, achieving sustainable growth, and enhancing industrial competitiveness, particularly through the adoption of cutting-edge technology The strategy strives to achieve MoIAT’s goal of doubling the industrial sector’s contribution to national GDP in less than 10 years.

Regarding future plans, he clarified that MoIAT will focus on increasing the industrial sector’s contribution to building an economy that is the best and most dynamic in the world, in line with the Principles of the 50 adopted by the UAE’s wise leadership as a comprehensive development plan to advance growth and prosperity over the next 50 years.

Al Jaber emphasised that the UAE invites partners to participate in enhancing industrial growth based on smart partnerships to expand its industrial base while utilizing its current competitive advantages, including a world-class infrastructure, access to energy sources and raw materials, and diversity and cultural openness, which make the country a preferred destination for talents from more than 200 nationalities. He pointed out that UAE is seeking to enhance these advantages by refining regulatory frameworks, providing long-term residency visas for investors, entrepreneurs and highly skilled professionals, and facilitating access to finance in cooperation with the Emirates Development Bank.

Dr. Sultan Al Jaber also highlighted the Projects of the 50, which were launched by the UAE’s leadership to lay the foundation for growth for the next five decades. He noted the significant role played by industry and advanced technology in these projects. "As the UAE celebrates its 50th anniversary, our wise leadership has laid its vision for a prosperous future for the next 50 years. The role of industry is to contribute to building the best and most dynamic economy in the world."

During his participation in the first day of the summit, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber met with Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, and Lord Gerry Grimstone, Minister for Investment at Department for International Trade and Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy in the United Kingdom.

Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, and His Excellency Khaldoon Al Mubarak, CEO of Mubadala Company, also attended the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology and Emirates Global Aluminium, signed by Omar Suwaina Al Suwaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry, and Abdel Nasser bin Kalban, CEO of Emirates Global Aluminium. The MoU aims to implement the In-Country Value program on all purchases and contracts for goods and services, cooperate on growth opportunities in the aluminum industry in the country, and form a joint working committee to evaluate and discuss the requirements for implementing the program and provide insights and lessons learned from experience.

Dr. Sultan Al Jaber and Malik Sultan Al Malik, Director General of the Dubai Development Authority and CEO of Dubai Holding Asset Management, also attended the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the ministry and Dubai Industrial City, which included areas of cooperation and joint endeavors, such as encouraging enterprises to sign up to the Fourth Industrial Revolution Index Program, participate in the readiness assessment, promote the activities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution Network, and join the ICV program and support the "Make it in the Emirates" campaign. The MoU was signed by Omar Suwaina Al Suwaidi and Abdullah Belhoul, Chief Commercial Officer of Dubai Holding Asset Management. Al Jaber also toured a number of pavilions of government entities and national and international companies.