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DATA FOR A BETTER FUTURE
Dubai, October 19, 2018
The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) hosted the meetings of the UN Global Working Group (GWG) on Big Data across an entire day. The meetings explored the five key pillars of utilising Big Data to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN’s 2030 Agenda.
H.E. Abdullah Lootah, FCSA Director General and Chairman of the Organising Committee of the UN World Data Forum 2018, opened the meetings, which discussed ways to improve the quality of statistics, strategies for addressing challenges in the Big Data sector, and mechanisms to consolidate partnerships with leading statistics entities from around the world, as well as data developers and experts on Big Data.
Ms. Heather Savory, Co-Chair of the UN Big Data Group and Director-General of Data Capacity at the National Statistical Office of the United Kingdom, said: “I would like to begin by thanking the UAE for hosting these meetings, which provide an international platform and ideal environment that enhances cooperation and partnership among all sorts of institutions and organisations. We are waiting to catalyse research and development efforts to provide secure services and applications, which, in turn, can be used to implement various projects in collaboration with leading tech companies and academic institutions. We look forward to exploring the best practices that enable the international statistics community to embrace modern technologies, improve the collection of data and utilise them to drive development and achieve SDGs locally and internationally.”
Meanwhile, Niels Ploug, Co-Chair of the UN Big Data Group and Director of the Department of Social Statistics of the Statistics Office of Denmark, said: “Independent official statistics serve both governments and the private sector, providing data about economic, social and environmental sectors. With that in mind, technology and data can help outline a clear image of the challenges that lie ahead for our society. Meeting here in Dubai is ideal to address our ability to utilise these resources and we look forward to partnering with the private sector to access its data and develop wider-reaching services.”
Mohamed Hassan Ahli, Executive Director of the National Statistics and Data Sector at the FCSA, said: “The UAE is hosting GWG’s Open Day meetings, in line with the directives of our wise leadership in supporting and encouraging innovation, benefiting from the data revolution and harnessing advanced technology to achieve strategic objectives and sustainable development plans locally, regionally and internationally.”
“Big Data is the cornerstone of optimising the use of artificial intelligence to employ cutting-edge technology in forecasting the future,” Ahli added. “Such forecasts are a key pillar of data-driven strategic planning, which is used across all UAE Government entities. These meetings will undoubtedly offer an opportunity to introduce international best practices in data and statistics across economic, social, environmental, health and educational spheres.”
The GWG meeting agenda included over five sessions showcasing the most prominent experiences and expertise in harnessing Big Data to achieve SDGs.
Session 1 highlighted the developments of the GWG’s Global Platform for Big Data and its contributions to producing official statistics. It also underlined new platforms for reliable methodologies and algorithms and monitoring of Earth’s data, e.g. Earth Observation Data, to collect and analyse data and integrate AI and machine learning applications.
Exploring agriculture and crop statistics, Session 2 shed light on the experiences of Canada, Colombia and the World Food Programme through satellite imagery data. Session 3, meanwhile, focused on assessing the movement of individuals and groups through analysing data collected from mobile electronic devices and methods of utilising such data to derive statistics on tourism, migration, daily commute and refugee movements.
Session 4 dealt with price fluctuations and their impact on the future forecast of commodity prices and spending behaviours through collecting data from bar codes, as well as from store and market reports. This while Session 5 addressed the challenges of Big Data and privacy, showcasing best practices in protecting personal data and making relevant decisions.
Around the end of the sessions, members of the GWG proposed key learnings and takeaways, which included: The need for statistics offices to modernise in order to benefit from the Big Data revolution; the necessity of optimising the insights that can be gathered from satellite imagery; tapping into machine learning and artificial intelligence; benefitting from the insight provided by data sources and technologies to improve the quality and relevance of official statistics and enable better decision-making for policymakers in the UAE and abroad.
The session underlined the importance of collaboration among the global community to achieve sustainable development in this new digital economy. This includes organising major events, such as the GWG ensure that knowledge is shared among statistics offices across the globe. The main objective from this type of event is to ensure that this is done in an open, transparent and collaborative manner. In addition to enhancing official statistics, Big Data also has great potential to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals to end poverty and hunger, ensure quality education, better healthcare and more equality, all the while addressing climate change and ensuring a better future for everyone.
The UN Global World Group for Big Data comprises 22 member countries, including the UAE, represented by the FCSA, which strives to develop national competencies and seek out the latest international technologies and experiences in government Big Data programmes and initiatives. Furthermore, the GWG aims to identify international best practices and innovation-driven initiatives in terms of official statistics, particularly the applications of Big Data.
The GWG also includes nine members of international entities, including Eurostat, the GCC Statistical Center, the International Telecommunication Union, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the United Nations Statistics Division, and the World Bank.
Dubai, October 8, 2018
The Ministry of Interior has signed a partnership agreement with the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) to enhance bilateral collaboration and coordination in the lead-up to the second edition of the UN World Data Forum, set to be held in Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah on October 22-24, 2018.
The Forum brings together high-ranking officials, prominent decision makers, and more than 1,500 experts and specialists in data and statistics from all around the world. The partnership agreement allows the Ministry of Interior to showcase the latest successes achieved in the police and security sector through a data-centred approach.
The agreement was signed at the Ministry’s headquarters by His Excellency Lt. General Saif Abdullah Al Shafar, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, and H.E. Abdullah Nasser Lootah, FCSA Director General and Chairman of the Forum’s Organising Committee, in the presence of Brigadier General Mohammed Humaid bin Dalmuj Al Dhaheri, Acting Secretary-General of the Office of the Minister of Interior, and a number of FCSA officials.
The agreement is in line with both entities’ efforts to promote cooperation among institutions across the UAE to better serve the community and establish the UAE as an example to be emulated around the region and the world, all the while highlighting the country’s credentials as a prime destination for major international conferences and events.
H.E. Lt. General Al Shafar noted that signing this partnership agreement with the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority reiterates the Ministry’s commitment to supporting events and initiatives revolving around statistics in general, and the activities of the UN World Data Forum 2018, in particular, which is a notable event for the international statistics sector.
The Lt. General went on to note that the Ministry, under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and Minister of Interior, is committed to building excellent relationships with entities across the UAE and facilitating the exchange of knowledge and expertise among them. This, in turn, catalyses sustainable development, ensures safety and security, and helps provide advanced services.
For his part, H.E. Abdullah Nasser Lootah said: “We are happy to be collaborating with the Ministry of Interior to harmonise all efforts and ensure the UN World Data Forum 2018, held in the UAE, is a resounding success. This partnership also echoes our dedication to strengthening partnerships with all stakeholders across the UAE to ensure sustainable development, secure the country’s spot at the top of international competitiveness indexes, and highlight its role in fostering collaboration to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
“This partnership is an important step forward; it supports all the efforts to create a massive, centralised database for the UAE – the first of its kind in the world – firmly establishing the country as a global leader in embracing data as a key ingredient in sustainable development,” H.E. Lootah added. “It allows us to benefit from expertise, explore best practices, build national capacities, and utilise advanced technologies to mine accurate data and use it as a foundation upon which to build a better future for coming generations.”
The agreement stipulates that the two parties are to cooperate and provide all resources necessary to support the world-leading Forum that examines the role of data in accomplishing the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda. The two entities will also benefit from the Forum’s discussions and takeaways to empower national talents and hone their statistical skills. Held under the aegis of the United Nations, the World Data Forum brings together prominent data producers and consumers to launch initiatives that improve available data on health, education, income, the environment, and climate, among other areas of interest for sustainable development.
Dubai, October 3, 2018
The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) organised a panel discussion titled “Data and Artificial Intelligence: An Active Role in Building the World’s Future” as part of the “Data for a Better Future for Humanity” series in the lead-up to the second UN World Data Forum, set to be held in Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah on October 22-24, 2018.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, the Forum brings together high-ranking officials, prominent decision makers, and more than 1,500 experts and specialists in data and statistics from all around the world.
Her Excellency Sarah bint Yousif Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Sciences, attended the session, along with H.E. Abdullah Nasser Lootah, FCSA Director General and Chairman of the Forum’s Organising Committee; while H.E. Ohood Ali Abdullah Al Shuhail, Director-General of Ajman Digital Government; and Eng. Bashar Kilani, Region Executive, IBM Middle East, participated in an interactive discussion with officials from statistics centres, universities and youth councils around the UAE, debating how data affects the use of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly with regards to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) locally and internationally.
H.E. Sarah Al Amiri asserted that the UAE, guided by the forward-thinking vision of its wise leadership, has espoused a proactive approach, tailored to the requirements of the Government of the Future and rooted in data as a fundamental component in decision making. This is in line with the UAE’s quest to establish its lead in various sectors and find solutions for all challenges, particularly those with direct impact on the lives of individuals and society.
“Data is the cornerstone of knowledge; and knowledge is the driving force behind positive change,” H.E. added. “With that in mind, the optimal utilisation of data and scientific research will play a key role in establishing a developed ecosystem that embraces advanced science and technology to upgrade key services and provide a better life and brighter future for all members of the community.”
“We, at the Office of the Minister of State for Advanced Science, prioritise data, research and statistics, which, we believe, play an immense role in ensuring the optimal use of advanced science and research, as per the objectives of the National Advanced Sciences Agenda 2031,” H.E. Al Amiri noted. “The Agenda seeks to establish a conducive environment to help achieve the objectives of the UAE Centennial 2071 Plan, by placing science and technology at the disposal of sectors and establishing a comprehensive database to help identify the most important challenges and create solutions to address them.”
The Minister of State for Advanced Science concluded by asserting the importance of promoting scientific research, guiding the youth, and empowering them to remain aware of advanced sciences in order to ultimately build a generation of distinguished Emirati scientists and achieve further success to reflect the best possible image of UAE youth.
For her part, H.E. Ohood Ali Abdullah Al Shuhail said: “The Ajman Government is working to build a robust database in collaboration with all Government entities and according to the Ajman 2021 vision, which, in turn, aims to achieve the UAE leadership’s vision to build a better future for our societies and coming generations.”
“Processing data through advanced technologies is fundamental for adopting artificial intelligence,” H.E. Al Shuhail continued. “With that in mind, we consider the community to be a key partner in supporting Government entities by providing the necessary data to upgrade Government operations, while the private sector’s cooperation is paramount to build a comprehensive data ecosystem that facilitates forecasting future challenges and formulating adequate solutions for them.”
“Having realised the importance of these advanced technologies early on, the UAE appointed a Minister of State for Advanced Science to the Federal Government and proceeded to work on a National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence that echoes the 2021 Advanced Science Strategy and intersects with four of its main themes in nine key sectors,” H.E. explained.
Al Shuhail noted that the Ajman Digital Government emphasises developing technological skills among young generations and to that end, it has launched a series of initiatives, collaborating with Sandooq Al Watan and other entities to launch “Emirati Coder” to train 260 students in programming and robotics. The Ajman Digital Government also collaborated with Dark Matter Group’s educational arm, Ajyal Talent Management, to introduce four new courses to the curriculum at Ajman Academy as a prelude to implementing them in schools across the emirate.
Meanwhile, Eng. Bashar Kilani began by identifying artificial intelligence as a concept, which consists of using machines to simulate human intellect, noting that the first recorded implementations of this advanced technology emerged in the 1950s and 1960s in the form of devices that analyse voices and images. With the data revolution, these technologies made their way to other areas, such as analysis, machine learning and reading.
“The successful implementation of these future technologies relies on accurate data to support decision making,” Kilani said. “Data plays a pivotal role in improving performance and customer satisfaction, increasing companies’ bottom lines, and helping employees hone their professional skills by automating repetitive tasks and allowing them to shift their focus on more important duties.”
Kilani noted that the emergence of these advanced technologies will create new jobs on the market, where two-thirds of jobs in the future are expected to be completely new, while automation and robots will take over 80% of human tasks. The IBM Region Executive cited examples where this is already happening, such as in bank transactions, self-driving vehicles and drones.
“Data is the oil of the future, and we are on the cusp of great growth in the sector and the proliferation of related professions, such as data scientist. There will be increasing demand for data scientists in engineering, data scientists in medicine, etc.” Kilani concluded. “The UAE will lead the way in utilising this data to improve performance across key sectors and maintain the UAE’s steady rise on international competitiveness indexes.”
The UN World Data Forum 2018 is the most important international gathering of data and statistics in the world. It contributes to the establishment of a scientific incubator environment to enhance the role of data and statistics in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals 2030, namely food security, health and learning.
Taking place over the course of three days, the UN World Data Forum receives support from major strategic partners, namely: The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFA); the Ministry of Interior (MOI); GCC Statistical Center (GCC-STAT); the Smart Dubai Office (SDO); Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA); Dubai Statistics Center (DSC); DP World; Abu Dhabi Ports; Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi; Sharjah Department of Statistics and Community Development (DSCD); Fujairah Statistics Centre; and the General Secretariat of the Executive Council in the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain.
Dubai, September 29, 2018
The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) organised a panel discussion on “Future Food Security and the Importance of Data in Addressing Food Challenges”, part of the “Data for a Better Future for Humanity” in the lead-up to the UN World Data Forum 2018, set to be held in Dubai on October 22-24.
Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, the Forum brings together high-ranking officials, prominent decision makers, and more than 1,500 experts and specialists in data and statistics from all around the world.
His Excellency Abdullah Nasser Lootah, FCSA Director General and Chairman of the Forum’s Organising Committee, attended the workshop, along with a number of senior officials, including Essa Abdulrahman Al Hashemi, Head of the Food Security Office at the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and the Future; and Eng Mohammed Ahmed Al-Dhanhani, Director of the Development and Health Department at the Ministry of Climate Change and the Environment; in addition to executives from statistics centres across the country and several of the FCSA’s strategic partners.
“This workshop is the first in a series of seminars that introduce members of the community to the importance of data and information, and its role in the development of high quality-services that meet their aspirations and improve their quality of life,” said H.E. Lootah. “It also offers a platform for proposals and initiatives that can be presented to participants at the second UN World Data Forum, which is set to be hosted in Dubai next month and will further cement the UAE’s reputation as a massive database and a global leader in embracing innovation and data to achieve the 2030 Agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
For his part, Essa Abdulrahman Al Hashemi introduced the concept of food security and the UAE’s initiatives in this regard. The UAE realised early on the importance of providing safe and healthy food supplies at reasonable prices, Al Hashemi asserted, citing the projects launched by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Founding Father of the UAE, that have guaranteed the country’s impressive score on the Global Food Security Index today. Most notable among these projects were establishing a national food security office in Abu Dhabi and approving a national strategy and system to stock strategic food supplies.
Al-Hashemi went on to affirm that data is a key pillar in the UAE’s ambitious plan to claim the top spot on the Global Food Security Index through initiatives and projects that will incentivise the private sector and entrepreneurs to invest in agricultural projects and embrace the latest technologies in this field.
Statistics and data are at the core of any effective food security system, Al Hashemi reiterated, noting their value and role in developing efficient mechanisms to ensure sustainability and continuous improvement. The most vital of these statistics cover domestic consumption, food waste, regular and groundwater resources and ways to manage them, and crops and ways to cultivate them using modern technology.
The discussion went on to highlight the importance of keeping up with scientific innovations within the food supply chain strategy, such as genome science, water-saving and capturing techniques that use humidity, and improved seeds that increase agricultural output and food production.
On a related note, Eng. Mohammed Ahmed Al-Dhanhani underlined the importance of cooperation among all stakeholders to enhance data collection, as this will help ensure accurate nation-wide statistics. Al-Dhanhani pointed to the announcement of the Strategy for Food Diversity, which includes partners and entities working within a unified system that aims to establish a more effective mechanism to provide accurate statistical data and information. He also stressed the importance of utilising modern technology, which will also contribute to the provision of accurate data. This technology includes Blockchain which provides real data and indicators on the volume of food consumption, accelerates the process of food import and export and completes financial transactions to ensure the availability of food products in the event of natural disasters.
Al-Dhanhani added that the availability of data is one of the best ways to overcome the challenges to achieve diversity by providing indicators on the size of food production in the country, through identifying the appropriate crops to grow and their level of water consumption. This ensures the conservation of groundwater reserves and the development of the agricultural sector through better adoption. It also balances water consumption according to weather conditions, monitors consumption processes and ensures the development of agricultural, fisheries and animal sectors. The discussion was followed by interactive dialogue and a question and answer session.
The UN World Data Forum 2018 is the most important international gathering of data and statistics in the world. It contributes to the establishment of a scientific incubator environment to enhance the role of data and statistics in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals 2030, namely food security, health and learning.
The UN World Data Forum 2018 takes place October 22-24 at Madinat Jumeirah Conference & Events Centre, Dubai, supported by a number of strategic partners, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of the Interior, the GCC Statistical Centre, Dubai Statistics Authority, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, DP World, Abu Dhabi Ports, Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi, Sharjah Department of Statistics and Community Development, Ras Al Khaimah Statistics Centre, Ajman Centre for Statistics and Competitiveness, the General Secretariat of the Executive Council in the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain, the Health Authority – Abu Dhabi, Dubai Media Incorporated, Emirates Airline, World Government Summit, Smart Solutions & Services Authority, EDIC Geospatial Services, and Habtoor City.
Dubai, September 11, 2018
The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) held a meeting for heads of communication from government entities and private-sector strategic partners at its headquarters, where it showcased the progress made in preparing for the second UN World Data Forum, set to be held in Dubai in October with more than 1,500 data experts in attendance.
His Excellency Abdullah Nasser Lootah, FCSA Director General, Chairman of the Organising Committee of the UN World Data Forum 2018, kicked off the meeting by outlining the vision and objectives behind the UAE’s hosting of the UN event. H.E. Lootah welcomed the attending officials – the heads of communication from the Ministry of Interior and statistics centres in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, in addition to the General Secretariat of the Executive Council of Umm Al Quwain, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), the Smart Dubai Office (SDO) and Abu Dhabi Ports.
Participants stressed the necessity of unifying the messages coming from the various entities and aligning them with the Forum’s objectives. They went on to call for greater cooperation between heads of communication and the organising teams to ensure media coverage that is on par with the Forum’s international status and prestige, and that underlines a set of clear and concise messages on the importance of data and its role in policy- and decision-making.
The UN World Data Forum is the most prominent event of its kind in the world with a primary focus on data and statistics. With its specialised discussion panels, the event presents a platform for exploring and enhancing the role of data and statistics in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) 2030 – most notably, food security, health and education.
The three-day Forum will be held on October 22-24, 2018, at Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah, with support from major strategic partners, namely: The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFA); the Ministry of Interior (MOI); GCC Statistical Center (GCC-STAT); the Smart Dubai Office (SDO); Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA); Dubai Statistics Center (DSC); DP World; Abu Dhabi Ports; Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi; Sharjah Department of Statistics and Community Development (DSCD); Fujairah Statistics Centre; and the General Secretariat of the Executive Council in the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain.
Dubai, September 8, 2018
The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) has signed strategic partnership agreements with statistics centres across emirates to coordinate efforts to support the UN World Data Forum 2018, set to be held in Dubai on October 22-24, 2018.
Now in its second edition, the Forum will welcome 1,500 prominent experts in the field of data and statistics from around the world, to showcase the UAE’s pioneering experience in collecting, analysing and benefiting from big data.
The agreements were signed at the FCSA headquarters in Dubai by representatives from the various statistics centres, including Statistics Centre − Abu Dhabi (SCAD); Dubai Statistic Center; the Sharjah Department of Statistics and Community Development; and the Ajman Statistics and Competitiveness Centre.
His Excellency Abdullah Nasser Lootah, FCSA Director General and Chairman of the Organising Committee of the UN World Data Forum 2018, said: “The Authority is committed to fostering cooperation and consolidating all efforts to ensure a successful second edition for the UN World Data Forum. Furthermore, we are working to develop efficient systems for statistics in the UAE and highlight the achievements registered in the sector. These partnerships we are forging with statistics centres across the country will help introduce all of us to international success stories and best practices in statistics and data, which, in turn, will help us position the UAE as a leading international hub for knowledge.”
For his part, H.E. Rashid Lahej Nasser Saeed Al Mansouri, Chairman of the Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi, said: “The Forum’s importance lies in providing an ideal platform for sharing experiences and identifying best practices in the statistics sector; it offers an opportunity to showcase the UAE’s experience in harnessing advanced technologies and channelling them towards building national capacities and honing statistical skillsets. All of this will ultimately serve the government’s plans to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promote the welfare of the community, and ensure a better future for our coming generations.”
H.E. Arif Al Muhairi, Executive Director of Dubai Statistics Center (DSC), added: “The UN World Data Forum is a global event that will be hosted this year by the UAE. We are proud of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority and its commendable efforts to win the bid and host the Forum. With this strategic partnership now in place, we will be sparing no effort to support the Authority and ensure success of the event, which we are honoured to be part of, and especially that it will now carry the name of the UAE.”
H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Thani, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Statistics and Community Development, underlined the importance of the Forum, saying: “The UN World Data Forum is an ideal platform for sharing experiences, transferring knowledge and building partnerships to enhance data at the regional and global levels. The Sharjah Department of Statistics and Community Development is taking part in the event to assert its commitment to partnership and cooperation with the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority, as well as to ensuring that the Forum comes out with innovative results that positively influence the future of the data sector.”
Meanwhile, H.E. Dr Hajar Saeed Al Hubaishi, Executive Director of Ajman Statistics and Competitiveness Centre, revealed that the Centre will be launching a number of data-related initiatives, projects and workshops, noting: “Hosting the second edition of the Forum adds to the UAE’s commendable track record of achievements on a regional and international level. Several developed European nations came forward to host the major event – countries such as Finland and Switzerland. Nevertheless, the United Nations selected the UAE to be the host, which reflects the Emirates’ dedication to excellence; and the bid submitted by the FCSA undoubtedly played a major role in securing the nomination.”
On a similar note, Dr Ibrahim Saad, Director of the Fujairah Statistics Center, said: “The success of the UAE’s bid to host the UN World Data Forum 2018 asserts its advanced position and high competitiveness in terms of hosting international conferences. It also highlights the growing importance of data for governments around the world, which calls for further developing data collection and processing to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Reiterating the significance of these agreements, Dr Ibrahim Akum, Director of Center for Statistics and Studies in Ras Al Khaimah, said: “The UN World Data Forum is growing all the more significant seeing as we live in the era of the digital revolution. Statistics – and data, in general – has become a focal point of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and a catalyst to the transformations taking place around the world. Those with an interest in statistics and data will be setting their sights on the UAE to discover the latest development in the data sector, set to be revealed at the prominent international event where local and international speakers will mingle with pioneers in statistics and data.”
H.E. Humaid Rashid Al Shamsi, Secretary-General of the Executive Council of Umm Al Quwain, said: “We are proud to be coordinating and joining hands with the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority and offering our support to ensure success and excellence in organising this global Forum. We are confident that the event will, without doubt, serve as a prominent platform to share insight into practical ways for optimising data, as well as the best ways to collect and analyse it.”
The agreements signed between the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority and statistics centres in all seven emirates seek to strengthen partnerships among all signatories to gather support for the UN World Data Forum 2018, and then benefit from its outcomes and takeaways in various sectors.
Dubai, September 3 2018
The UAE’s National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which includes 17 federal entities, recently held its third meeting for 2018, primarily discussing preparations for the upcoming second edition of the UN World Data Forum, set to be held in Dubai on October 22-24, 2018.
The meeting was attended by Her Excellency Hessa Buhumaid, Minister of Community Development, and H.E. Jameela Al Muhairi, Minister of State for Public Education, both of whom applauded the Committee for its efforts and preparations for the Forum, stressing the necessity of ensuring governance when implementing SDGs and of harmonising efforts among Committee members, as per the directives of the UAE’s leadership. Their Excellencies reiterated their support for the member entities’ efforts to provide the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) with accurate and current data.
“This Committee was formed in 2017, and in its one year and eight months of existence, it has registered outstanding achievements,” said H.E. Buhumaid, expressing her delight at the fact that the representatives of the 17 member entities are young Emiratis with great enthusiasm to serve their country.
For her part, H.E. Al Muhairi said: “We all work together to promote our country and continuously enhance its international standing in terms of sustainable development, and the UN World Data Forum presents an ideal platform to showcase our national achievements. The UAE has progressed from 77th place to 60th on the SDG Index; this is testament to the exceptional leadership of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Thanking Their Excellencies the Ministers for their attendance and contribution to the meeting, H.E. Abdullah Nasser Lootah, FCSA Director General and Chairman of the Organising Committee of the UN World Data Forum 2018, said: “Our work with the member entities of the Committee centres around the National Agenda’s metrics, which, in turn, offer the necessary support to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals 2030. Furthermore, we concentrate on data and statistics, which are essential for driving success at the Government level till 2021 and beyond.”
The 17 Committee members were thoroughly introduced to the upcoming UN World Data Forum (www.unwdf.ae) set to be held in the UAE under the theme “Better Data for Better Generations”. The event will be hosting more than 80 sessions that feature over 100 speakers from all around the world.
The team organising the Forum reiterated its potential as a platform for forging international partnerships and closer relations with the private sector – a key step for implementing SDGs. The meeting then moved on to a case study on DP World and its progress in achieving SDGs locally, regionally and internationally.
On the same note, the team outlined the progress made with regards to the Global Leadership Councils for SDGs initiative, announced at the World Government Summit, where work is underway to expand these Councils.
The National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals holds periodic meetings at the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority’s headquarters in Dubai.
The United Arab Emirates has achieved a significant global accomplishment by entering the top 10, securing the 10th position globally in the overall ranking as one of the best countries in the world in the "World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2021," published by the world Competitiveness Center (WCC) affiliated with the International Institute for Management Development (IMD).
In doing so, the UAE topped the MENA Region, not only ranking first regionally the UAE surpassed leading countries globally such as Finland, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, China, Germany, France, Japan, and Belgium. This achievement is notable during a period marked by major global challenges that significantly impacted economies worldwide. The UAE managed to make significant strides in various indicators in the report.
New achievement
Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of the UAE’s Competitiveness Council, Mohammed Abdullah Al Garqawi, said that the UAE’s entry into the Top 10 globally in the World Digital Competitiveness Report 2021, is one of the most important global competitiveness reports, and represents a new achievement in its journey towards establishing the UAE’s position as one of the best countries World.
He added, "The country has demonstrated its exceptional ability to overcome challenges and turn them into inspiring opportunities, thanks to the vision of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the State, and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the State, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, which enhances the country’s ability to achieve positive results in various competitiveness reports and indicators, making it one of the most competitive countries in the world."
His Excellency continued, "This achievement adds to the UAE’s track record in the global competitiveness journey, keeping pace with the significant developments and the new methodology of government work witnessed by the country. It reflects the government’s aspirations for the future, embodying its strategic goals aimed at achieving further progress and prosperity on all fronts. It also reinforces the UAE’s leadership in global competitiveness indicators."
Digital Transformation
H.E. Omar Sultan AlOlama, the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, stated that the government of the UAE supports innovative projects that enhance the concept of innovation and reinforces strategic partnerships and digital initiatives in both the public and private sectors.
He affirmed that the new achievement of the UAE reaching the 10th position globally in the report among the best countries in this field is a result of the leadership’s vision that prioritizes a knowledge-based economy and embraces smart solutions and innovative digital initiatives among its current priorities and future plans.
He added that the UAE government adopts a policy of digital transformation that enhances the efficiency of smart platforms and contributes to the successful implementation of projects in the fields of digital economy and artificial intelligence, which positively impacts both the government and society.
Ready For The Future
In the same vein, Minister of State for Advanced Sciences, Sarah AlAmiri affirmed that the government of the UAE embraces advanced technology and Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies as a fundamental axis in its future-oriented directions. This reflects the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, to develop an integrated technological infrastructure based on innovation and digitization, supporting the state’s efforts in preparing for the next fifty years.
Her Excellency praised the progress achieved by the UAE in the "Global Digital Competitiveness Report," securing the fifth position globally in the Technology Framework Index. She highlighted the qualitative leap in the Digital and Technological Skills Index, with the country advancing seven positions to rank 10th globally.
Vision 2021
H.E. Eng. Majed Sultan Al Mesmar The Director General of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, stated that the significance of the results achieved by the UAE in the "World Digital Competitiveness Report 2021" lies in the timing, aligning with the accomplishment of the ‘UAE Vision 2021’ to be among the best countries globally.
He added, ‘This result comes to confirm that, with the guidance of our leadership, we have achieved digital transformation goals in successive stages until now. This encourages us and strengthens our determination to move towards new heights and achievements in the next fifty years, God willing.
Work Style
H.E. Dr. Mohamed Hamad Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity of the UAE Government, that the digital transformation witnessed by the country touches all aspects of life in the state’s society. It has become a culture and a working style in the UAE government. With the technological progress in our world today, digital security has become an integral part of the national security of advanced countries. Innovation, adaptability, and the ability to renew play a crucial role in protecting digital societies and proactively addressing any cyber threats.
Al Kuwaiti affirmed that the UAE is moving steadily according to the ‘Plan 50,’ aiming to be among the best countries in the world in various sectors through insightful vision, an effective government, and the capability to flexibly and efficiently deal with future changes. This enhances its position regionally and internationally within the most competitive knowledge-based economies globally.
H.E. Hanan Ahli, acting director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, expressed her sincere thanks to the strategic partners in the federal and local government entities, national statistical centers, and private sector partners.
She emphasized that the UAE government attaches great importance to the role of effective partnerships between federal and local government entities and the private sector to support the competitiveness file.
Global Leadership In 4 Indicators
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has secured the top spot globally in four indicators in the report: "Cybersecurity," "Net Inflow of International Students," "Resilience of Residence Laws," and "Wireless Broadband Subscriptions."
Additionally, the country has claimed the second position worldwide in indicators such as "Availability of Global Expertise," "Presence of International Experts," and "Globalization Trends."
Furthermore, it has achieved the third position globally in indicators such as "City Management," "Companies’ Use of Big Data and Analytical Tools," and "Availability of Opportunities and Absence of Threats."
Significant Leaps by the UAE
The United Arab Emirates has made significant advancements in various indicators, making a leap of 31 positions in one go in the "Internet Users" index, securing the fourth position globally. Furthermore, it achieved a remarkable advancement of 31 positions in the "Percentage of Population with Higher Education" index, attaining the 16th position worldwide.
In addition, the country experienced a leap of 22 positions in the "Subscribers to Mobile Broadband Service" index, ranking 12th globally. It also made a notable jump of nine positions in the "Percentage of Women University Graduates with Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees," securing the 10th position globally. These achievements are complemented by numerous other indicators in which the UAE has demonstrated substantial progress.
The country has consistently ranked within the top 10 globally in 25 out of the 52 indicators covered in the report.
The ‘Global Digital Competitiveness Report’ assesses the performance of 64 countries worldwide across three main pillars: Knowledge, Technology, and Future Readiness. The three main pillars are further divided into nine sub-pillars, encompassing a total of 52 indicators. The report methodology relies on 20 opinion survey indicators and 32 statistical data indicators.
UAE Leads in the Arab Region
In this year’s report, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) emerged as the top-ranking Arab country, securing the first position in all main pillars. It achieved the 5th position globally in the ‘Technology’ pillar, the 12th position globally in the ‘Future Readiness’ pillar, and experienced a significant leap of 13 positions in the ‘Knowledge’ pillar, landing at the 18th position globally.
In the nine sub-pillars of the report, the UAE claimed the top spot globally in the ‘Talent’ pillar, advancing four positions from the previous year. It secured the 2nd position globally in the ‘Regulatory Framework’ pillar and the 5th position globally in the ‘Technological Framework’ pillar.
Furthermore, the UAE made a substantial leap of 19 positions in the ‘Education and Training’ pillar, achieving the 25th position globally. It also secured the 10th position globally in two sub-pillars: ‘Workforce Flexibility’ and ‘Information Technology Integration.’
The UAE surpassed countries such as Finland, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, China, Germany, France in the overall rankings.
Dubai (Union) – The UAE has achieved a new global achievement by being among the best countries in the world in government digital transformation, to be the only Arab country in this group, in the Government Digital Maturity Report "GovTech" issued by the World Bank for the year 2021, which measures the levels of maturity of digital transformation and reliance on modern technology in conducting work in the government sector in 198 countries around the world. The report divided the countries included into 4 groups, the first of which was Group A, which included "the global leaders in government technology maturity", which included 43 countries, including the UAE, Canada, the United States, Switzerland, Britain, France, and Japan, which were ranked "very high" in the maturity of technology adopted in government digital transformation processes, as countries in this category had innovative solutions and distinguished practices. Group B includes countries that have achieved a "high" rank in government technology maturity and have large investments and good practices in government technology in most of the report’s themes, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Russia, China, Jordan, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Ireland. The third group (c) included countries whose governments have improvements in government digital transformation technology and have active efforts in digital government practices, while the fourth group (d) came to express countries with minimal focus on digital government initiatives. UAE Centennial Eng. Majid Sultan Al Mesmar, Director General of TDRA said: "The GovTech report from the World Bank represents a new milestone in the UAE’s march towards a sustainable digital future that includes both government and society, in implementation of the UAE Centennial Vision 2071, which was defined by our wise leadership. These include a forward-looking government, a diversified knowledge economy, and a more cohesive society." He added: "This achievement represents a natural reflection of the spirit of solidarity and one team that prevailed throughout the digital transformation process at the national level, including the federal and local governments as well as the private sector, and we do not forget the role of society through its active participation through digital platforms in the development of services and policies followed, which ultimately aim to achieve the highest levels of happiness for all in the UAE." Ambitious goals For her part, Hanan Mansour Ahli, Acting Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center, said: "The UAE is proceeding thanks to the vision and directives of the wise leadership for the next fifty years with ambitious goals that foresee the future, and consolidate the culture of excellence in being at the forefront of the countries of the world at various levels, and the digital, technical and scientific excellence of the UAE is a key pillar in its development and economic process." Ahli affirmed: "The UAE’s solutions within Group A, which is ranked the highest globally in the GovTech Digital Maturity Report issued by the World Bank, are new evidence of its leadership regionally and globally in the field of government digital transformation, in addition to its rich balance in global competitiveness reports, as the country ranked first globally in 121 competitive indicators, and first in the Arab world in 496 indicators, despite the rapid transformations in the global competitiveness map and the successive developments in the global economy, which makes The UAE experience is an icon from which to inspire the countries of the region and the world in the march of global competitiveness." Discriminate global The World Bank report based its classification on four main axes: "main government systems", "public service delivery", "community participation", and "government enablers for technological transformation", and pointed to the UAE’s global excellence in all axes, under which 48 indicators fall, the UAE achieved the full mark in 31 of them, which qualified it to be in group (A) the highest in the world, which includes countries that obtained a score ranging from 0.75 to 1.00 "full mark" in The maturity of government technologies, the only Arab country to join Group A, and participated with Israel alone in the top of the Middle East and North Africa countries within the same group, achieving a score of 0.80 on the index, knowing that the global average did not exceed 0.52, while countries in other groups obtained a score of 0.74 or less. A pioneering experience The report devoted a special space to reviewing the UAE’s experience in digital transformation, and pointed out that it is one of the most mature countries in the world in the field of digital government services provided to society, and touched on its adoption of the Fourth Industrial Revolution Strategy and the Artificial Intelligence Strategy. The National Innovation Strategy and the UAE Blockchain Strategy 2021. The report pointed out that the digital transformation strategy in the country aims to adopt advanced technologies and use them to convert 50% of government transactions at the federal level to the "blockchain" platform, and expected that government procedures in Dubai will become completely paperless by the end of 2021, which leads to the dispensation of more than one billion papers that were used in government transactions every year. The report concluded by presenting the UAE’s experience by detailing the results obtained in the four axes, and the indicators in which it excelled to exceed global averages, as the country won 0.60 in the "main government systems", noting that the global average is 0.48. The UAE achieved 0.92 in the "Providing Public Services" axis, while the global average did not exceed 0.61, and it won 0.88 in the "community participation" axis, while the global average did not exceed 0.46, and the country achieved 0.79 in the axis of "government enablers for technological transformation", while the global average was 0.53. It is worth noting that the World Bank’s GovTech Digital Maturity Report is the most comprehensive measure For digital transformation in the government sector, as it highlights the most important practices for designing digital transformation projects in the world.
Dubai, Dec. 8 (WAM) – The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre presented the model of the United Arab Emirates government and its exceptional experience over the past 50 years, during this time, the UAE succeeded in enhancing its sustainable development, propelling regional and international trade, which had a positive impact on the national economy. This presentation took place within the framework of the Uzbekistan Economic Forum, organized by the government of Uzbekistan in the capital, Tashkent.
A delegation from the UAE government, led by Her Excellency Hanan Ahli, Acting Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center, showcased the UAE’s experience in education, gender balance, and the significance of these elements in achieving well-being and quality of life. This presentation occurred in a key session titled "Developing Human Capital to Promote Comprehensive Development" during the forum. The event was attended by over 300 international officials and experts from institutions like the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, the Asian Development Bank, Standard & Poor’s, as well as high-level ministers and officials from the Uzbek government, prominent figures in the finance and business sectors, and media outlets from around the world.
The delegation’s participation comes within the framework of the strategic partnership between the governments of the UAE and Uzbekistan, which was signed in 2019 and has witnessed rapid development in the relations between the two friendly countries. This partnership includes the enhancement of knowledge exchange, successful experiences, and government modernization initiatives, benefiting from the experiences of the UAE government.
Her Excellency Hanan Ahli emphasized that the UAE government primarily focuses on embedding a culture of innovation in the governmental work environment. This culture has been a key driver in launching hundreds of innovative initiatives and successful projects. She added that the UAE government is committed to promoting the exchange of successful governmental experiences with other governments worldwide. The exceptional experiences of the UAE serve as a fundamental pillar that enables governments to develop their own models of governmental work, contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
She expressed her pride in sharing the UAE government model and highlighting its experiences, reflecting the directives and visions of the UAE’s leadership, aimed at enhancing cooperation and knowledge exchange with friendly countries like Uzbekistan. Both nations have a strategic partnership in government modernization and development.
The forum provided a unique opportunity for participants to discuss economic and developmental plans, means of enhancing competitiveness in the context of more open and integrated international and regional economies, initiatives to improve the investment climate, policies for improving living standards, promoting sustainable and comprehensive economic growth, and various aspects of global competitiveness and ease of doing business.
The participation of the UAE government highlighted the importance of promoting digital transformation and its impact on the development of government work, education, services, and more. It also covered the UAE’s journey in implementing competitive strategies and elevating its global competitiveness rankings over the years, resulting in significant achievements.
The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center presented the model of the United Arab Emirates government and its exceptional experience over the past 50 years. During this time, the UAE succeeded in enhancing sustainable development, propelling regional and international trade, which had a positive impact on the national economy. This presentation took place within the framework of the "Economic Achievements and Future Prospects of Uzbekistan" forum, organized by the Uzbek government in the capital, Tashkent.
A delegation from the UAE government, led by Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli, Acting Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center, showcased the UAE’s experience in education, gender balance, and the significance of these elements in achieving well-being and quality of life. This presentation occurred in a key session titled "Developing Human Capital to Promote Comprehensive Development" during the forum. The event was attended by over 300 international officials and experts from institutions like the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, the Asian Development Bank, Standard & Poor’s, as well as high-level ministers and officials from the Uzbek government, prominent figures in the finance and business sectors, and media outlets from around the world.
This participation is part of the strategic partnership between the governments of the UAE and Uzbekistan, which was signed in 2019 and has witnessed rapid development in the relations between the two friendly countries. This partnership includes the enhancement of knowledge exchange, successful experiences, and government modernization initiatives, benefiting from the UAE government’s experience.
Her Excellency Hanan Ahli emphasized that the UAE government primarily focuses on embedding a culture of innovation in the governmental work environment. This culture has been a key driver in launching hundreds of innovative initiatives and successful projects. She added that the UAE government is committed to promoting the exchange of successful governmental experiences with other governments worldwide. The exceptional experiences of the UAE serve as a fundamental pillar that enables governments to develop their own models of governmental work, contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Ahli expressed her pride in sharing the exceptional UAE government model and shedding light on its experiences, reflecting the directives and visions of the UAE’s leadership, aimed at enhancing cooperation and knowledge exchange with friendly countries like Uzbekistan. Both nations have a strategic partnership in government modernization and development.
The forum provided a unique opportunity for participants to discuss economic and developmental plans, means of enhancing competitiveness in the context of more open and integrated international and regional economies, initiatives to improve the investment climate, policies for improving living standards, promoting sustainable and comprehensive economic growth, and various aspects of global competitiveness and ease of doing business.
The participation of the UAE government highlighted the importance of promoting digital transformation and its impact on the development of government work, education, services, and more. It also covered the UAE’s journey in implementing competitive strategies and elevating its global competitiveness rankings over the years, resulting in significant achievements.
It’s worth noting that the strategic partnership agreement in government modernization between the UAE government and the Republic of Uzbekistan, signed two years ago, aims to strengthen the exchange of knowledge and successful experiences in governmental work across various areas, including governmental accelerators, excellence, quality, services, smart applications, performance, government innovation, leadership programs, capacity building, programming, the future of education and the economy, global competitiveness, and business ease, among others, with the goal of positively impacting the development of Uzbekistan’s governmental system.
Dubai, March 30 2022- Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State, affirmed For International Cooperation Affairs, Chairperson of the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals, The UAE government adopts the Sustainable Development Goals and supports the visions of nations United Nations in accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, for the good of societies and peoples.
He came This was during the work of the Sustainable Development Goals Forum within the summit activities World Government 2022, organized under the theme "New Horizons for the Future" Humanity" organized by the UAE government at Expo 2020 Dubai with the participation of Heads of State, Heads of Government, Ministers, Officials of International Organizations and Global Experts and future forward-lookers.
H.E. Wafil Ramkalawan, President of the Republic of Seychelles, participated in the forum. H.E. María Juliana Ruiz, First Lady of the Republic of Colombia, and H.E. Edouard Ngerente, Prime Minister of the Republic of Rwanda, and Her Excellency Reem Bent Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Chairperson of the Committee National SDGs, and His Excellency Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister UAE Energy and Infrastructure, and H.E. Amina Shona, Minister Environment, climate change and technology in the Maldives.
H.E. Mari-Ilka Bangistu, Director General of Policies Development and Partnerships at the World Bank, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy in Indonesia, H.E. Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Director General of the Office of the Speaker of the Ministers in the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, Deputy Chairman of the National Committee for the Objectives of Sustainable Development, and H.E. Mahmoud Mohieldin, Executive Director of the Fund International Monetary Fund. And a number of Their Excellencies and Excellencies officials in the government of the State UAE, and the chairs and members of the Global Councils for the Sustainable Development Goals.
Her Excellency Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashimy stressed that the launch of the Development Goals Forum Sustainable Project, from Expo 2020 Dubai, reflects the UAE’s message and its pursuit of the good of human societies and the sustainability of the planet, and translates the directives of The wise leadership of the need to intensify efforts to achieve global development goals, Strengthening international frameworks to accelerate the achievement of the Global Development Goals Sustainable.
Her Excellency added that the importance of this forum lies in the fact that it frames visions and directions. for the next stage, and contributes to strengthening the role of the global councils in their session The second in line with the global trends of the future, and contributes to the empowerment of governments and communities to actively participate in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, She expressed the thanks of the UAE government for all the international efforts being made Which met on the land of the UAE through Expo 2020 Dubai, and carried a message state The UAE in love and peace, and strengthening partnerships to serve humanity for all The peoples of the world.
His Excellency Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, said that this Global gathering at the Forum contributes through the World Government Summit to Foreseeing a sustainable future for human societies, and building capacity to accelerate efforts Achieving sustainable development goals by investing in solutions Sustainability, building competencies and expertise, and pioneering sustainable development thought Develop a clear strategy to ensure that we keep pace with the requirements of future generations, By employing all future foresight tools, which help us anticipate opportunities Future challenges and repercussions, analyzing their impacts, and developing innovative solutions to them, providing alternatives to them, in addition to stimulating and pushing resources and technologies Information, culture, expertise and innovations to achieve development goals in line with the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development."
For his part, His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, said: Digital Economy and Telework Applications, Director, World Summit Foundation For Governments: The World Summit Governments form a global platform that inaugurates a covenant A new and bright new sustainable development that embodies the UAE’s efforts The world’s leading and forward-looking vision of its wise leadership in building A more sustainable future for all humanity" He added: "The SDG Global Councils represented a qualitative addition for international efforts aimed at accelerating the achievement of development goals, and that the role of It has been playing a major role since its transformation from an idea to an idea. A comprehensive international initiative through the World Government Summit platform that provides Councils have the optimal environment to bring together decision-makers and thought leaders from the disciplines of And multiple countries to address the most important issues and files in the world at the level of sustainability".
His Excellency praised the pioneering role of the UAE government in supporting the achievement of the goals of The global sustainability agenda, and its keenness to launch initiatives aimed at accelerating Implementing them in a way that reflects positively on communities around the world.
Addressing the forum, H.E. Catherine Russell, Executive Director The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has the important role it plays The UAE in terms of strengthening The role of international organizations working in the field of Supporting Childhood, she said: "We have made excellent efforts to support childhood, and dedicate the right to Children in quality education, access to necessary health care, and life But it is still in front of the world, whether governments or international organizations. Or the private sector, a lot to do especially in light of the disasters surrounding childhood around the world, whether as a result of the repercussions of the Covid pandemic, or as a result of crises geopolitics around the world".
Russell said that the countries of the world agreed 7 years ago to adopt development goals. UNICEF was fortunate to collaborate with the UAE to Achieving these goals, she continued, "While we have made progress on this Framework, we have also seen some decline due to the challenges of the pandemic and change climate and the current conflicts that threaten the march of this progress. We must We put children’s rights at the heart of global agendas, and we must invest in Social protection programs. Some 23 million children are unvaccinated. essential in 2020 alone, as we have to deal with the health problem The psychology facing many children and adolescents around the world."
Russell added: "The focus must be on children in low-income communities. as The return of children to classrooms and education must be ensured. The pandemic has forced Millions of women around the world are losing their jobs, and there are ten million A child is at risk of early marriage. There are millions of children who do not They have access to clean water and sanitation services. So we can’t Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals without tangible progress on children."
On the other hand, the forum witnessed the participation of His Excellency Val Ramcallon, President of the Republic of Seychelles, who was interviewed by H.E. Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Director General of the Office of the Presidency of the Ministers in the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs Vice President of the Global Councils for the purposes of Sustainable development.
During the dialogue session, His Excellency the President of Seychelles pointed out that the development goals Sustainable has been an integral part of his life since childhood, noting that the population of Seychelles are keen not to waste water and conserve resources, stressing that the objectives of Sustainable development 13, 14 and 15 specifically address their vulnerabilities An island country like Seychelles that is surrounded by water on all sides.
said On the impact of youth and their role in the future, "We must convey values important to the younger generation and to give them a better future so that they can provide This promising future for the generations to come, as young people should remember that Their actions affect the world in one way or another."
On the theme "Transformational Leadership: New Horizons for the Future of Humanity", H.E. Mary Elka Bangistu, Director-General for Development Policy and Partnerships World Bank, former Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic Indonesia, a speech in which she noted that the Sustainable Development Goals represent A map of our common future that we want to build for future generations, stressing that The meeting of 150 countries on these goals was difficult, and the performance of any country in The achievement of these goals depends on its leadership.
Her Excellency said: "The SDGs are interconnected and multiple. purposes, so we should simplify them and turn them into easy goals, and we should There shall be cooperation between local and central governments, companies and entities Academic and society at large, and to allow citizens to engage in these operation".
Another panel discussion on The same topic with the participation of His Excellency Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, and H.E. Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund, United Nations Special Envoy on financing the 2030 Agenda, and Her Excellency Rose Marie Houaro, Minister of Local Government Community development in the Republic of Seychelles.
H.E. Suhail Al Mazrouei said: "The late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul, directives to stop the burning of associated gas for production operations, which contributed to the launch of an initiative to stop gas flaring completely in Our national companies, at a time when other international companies Burn natural gas. In 2007, we started thinking about diversifying the energy mix. We have, and we also launched the first peaceful nuclear program in the region, where we celebrated Recently the commissioning of the second nuclear plant, where the two plants provide 1400 megawatts of energy."
"We seek to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 70% by 2050, and the diversification of the energy mix as well, and this contributed to the impact on More than 40 countries are on sustainability projects. There is no doubt that these efforts come thanks to The presence of leaders Wise, and this is clearly embodied in the UAE."
H.E. Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin said: "There is no doubt about the importance of leadership in dealing with With the most important challenges, the importance of organizations such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank To address the challenges facing the SDGs, there are many Strong institutions that exist in each country, and should take advantage of these institutions to provide solutions to our challenges. The impact of events The last world will be big on fuel, food and financial issues and the economy and fertilizer so there will be a long-term impact on food production, We must have immediate solutions in the short term, and the world must come together to We avoid food crises and famine.
H.E. Rose Marie Houaro, Minister of Local Government and Development, said: Society of the Republic of Seychelles: "When I became a minister 17 months ago, I was keen to Motivating my team and enabling them to understand the plans of the new government, as I was keen to Talk to my fellow ministers in the government so that they can understand the role of our ministry, We started implementing a program for change, focusing on encouraging everyone and networking. With. The Government of Seychelles is committed very implement the Sustainable Development Goals, but We can’t implement it alone, we need the support of the private sector and non-governmental organizations. government and support our people as well."
On the subject of advancing the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals to prosper Humanitarian, H.E. Florin Sabataro, Minister of Economy of the Republic of Romania, in which he said: "Leaders must provide sustainable solutions on Short, medium and long term. We must also ensure that global growth is More comprehensive.
"We also need to promote a circular economy, competitiveness and the development of The private sector, and rethinking leadership development strategies. The two sectors Public and private need a new form of leadership development to reconfigure Our strategies to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals."
Another panel discussion was attended by H.E. Dr. Tariq Al Gurg, Chairman Executive Director, Dubai Cares, and His Excellency Dr. Manal Taryam, Executive Director, DHA Primary Health Care, Executive Director and Board Member Trustees of Noor Dubai Foundation and Dr. Sonia Bin Jaafar, CEO Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation For education.
H.E. Dr. Tariq Al Gurg said: "There are around 250 million children out of school. 750 million children and adolescents cannot read or write. We can’t solve These problems if we are not united and work collectively. And if we don’t In coordination and cooperation, these obstacles and problems will continue. States must Adopts new educational systems to replace the old systems that were implemented 120 years ago years."
"Dubai Cares has been designing a new education system during for the past five years, and I am pleased to announce this system at this meeting.
All United Nations bodies and multilateral institutions have agreed to this. system, and we will unveil it soon."
H.E. Dr. Manal Taryam said: "The implementation of Development and maintenance is not easy. It is critical that we provide Access to affordable, high-quality healthcare. And we have many programs In several countries it suits the culture and diversity of each country. And what helped us to reach More than 30 million beneficiaries is understanding what the environment in which we operate and the culture of The people and partners we collaborate with."
She said Dr. Sonia Ben Jaafar: "In March 2020, 13 million students did not return Universities in the Arab world are able to study at their universities due to the pandemic Surprisingly, but e-learning was a magic tool that helped Continued education. We have learned from this that change is possible, and that it is important New strategies can be undertaken in this regard. We must move towards New systems of partnerships based on shared values around development goals sustainable".
In a session entitled "Global Councils for the Sustainable Development Goals: Ambassadors Change for limitless possibilities", delivered by His Excellency Ayman Almoayyed, Minister of Youth And sports in the Kingdom of Bahrain, a speech in which he said: "We rely in Bahrain on 5 The pillars are the exchange of ideas, where we ministers meet every Thursday to network. Exchange of expertise, experiences and lessons learned, in addition to localization of experiences programs, communication and awareness, promoting optimal feelings of confidence, pillar The fifth depends on the replay of this course, which turns us into ambassadors of change real."
Mary Amy Bury, General Manager of Positive Impact Finance, said: Societe Generale for Banking and Investment in the same session: "I see that you must focus on impact first to obtain funding, because showing value The positive impact helps to support access to funding, and can be This is through existing initiatives rather than new ones."
Ibrahim Al Zu’bi, Chief Sustainability Officer at Majid Al Futtaim, said: Holding, saying: "The momentum must be maintained in the private sector, we have been able to Identify the problem and challenges and focus on solutions and opportunities immediately, and we By integrating these solutions into our business model to increase revenues, there is no doubt that the UAE Serves as an excellent example at the level of the Global Development Goals Councils sustainable so that it can be replicated at the government and private sector levels."
Khawla Al Muhairi, Executive Vice President of Strategy and government communication with DEWA, the importance of supporting policymakers at the local and international level to understand the sustainable development goals, noting that SDG Global Councils are a good model for partnerships collaborative, and that these councils are able to develop integrated policy solutions.
Saw Another session entitled "Empowering Communities and the Future of Education and Health and Technology" with the participation of H.E. Amina Shona, Minister of Environment and Change Climate and Technology, Republic of Maldives, and Isabel Abulhoul, Director Executive and Board Member of the Emirates Literature Foundation, and Clint Brown, Director Product Engineering at Esri, Claire Cassie, Global Director of Policy and Insights In the Economist Impact.
H.E. Amina Shona said: "Building a resilient nation that is able to adapt to Climate change requires investment in human capacity, education and care Healthy. The only way we can tackle climate change is Invest in human capital and prepare young people for the impact of climate change. I More than 90% of the Maldives are vaccinated, and we have been able to open up our country Again for tourism after three months of closure. And we relied on technology intensively during the pandemic for development and climate surveillance."
Isabel Abulhoul, Executive Director and Board Member Emirates Literature Foundation: "I came to the UAE in 1968, and you weren’t Life then is the same as it is now There was a scarcity of water. So the population was Careful not to waste resources, and this has had a profound positive impact on Myself, as Dubai is known for its ability to find solutions to every problem, and we have been able to In our turn, we found solutions, and in light of the pandemic, we held events in the air We were open while adhering to social distancing and we used technology as well."
Clint Brown said: "Over the last two years, technology has evolved further. of its development over the past ten years. Five years from now, he will enter High school students to the workforce. So there’s a lot of effort that They should be made to support them and train the next generation of professionals. They will have to Also learn ways to live sustainably and recycle in ways we never imagined. The The younger generation is able to contribute in this context."
Claire Cassie said: "What helps us promote social resilience is taking Evidence-based decisions, data and measurement. This tool is suitable in Empower policymakers to make decisions. We must learn how to respond To improve our systems and develop new structures to be more prepared for any crisis Coming."
In turn, H.E. Edouard Ngirente, Prime Minister of the Republic of Rwanda, closing speech in which he pointed out that the world is gathering today under the dome of the summit Global governments in person two years after the pandemic, noting that this Reflects what can be achieved when countries cooperate with each other to achieve a goal Shared. "The 2030 Agenda provides a general path and goal in which all are committed to States. We aspire to provide high quality for all citizens, and The Sustainable Development Goals are fully in our national agenda."
"The recovery from the pandemic must be driven by economies and more environmentally friendly communities. 60% of Rwanda’s population is over 18. Years after vaccines, the country has shown promising signs of recovery. No doubt that this forum is an ideal occasion to reflect on our strategies and promote Our commitments and maintaining momentum in this decade. The 2030 Agenda is the ambitious and requires significant financial resources."
It reflects the high-level international participation that the forum enjoyed under the umbrella of World Government Summit, for decision-makers, elite experts and academics in Global Development Goals Councils Sustainable, its leading position The UAE and its pivotal role in supporting international efforts in this field, It confirms the high confidence that the international community places in the UAE and its ability to Implementing its commitments in this vital file and other global issues other.
On the sidelines of the forum, multidisciplinary dialogue sessions were held in which leaders participated. States, ministers and elite decision-makers in governments and international organizations academic institutions, community-based organizations and private sector companies, to shed light Highlighting innovative projects and discussing creative ideas aimed at implementing The seventeen Sustainable Development Goals at the national and global levels.
Participants discussed the capacity of the SDG Global Councils, With its unique network and the multiplicity of partnerships and specializations, to lay the foundation stone for the Transformational leadership, striving to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and drawing A brilliant future for future generations. In addition to the many topics that The world is concerned about sustainability and ways to achieve global goals.
The new session of the World Development Goals Councils features Sustainable by applying a more comprehensive model, so that the focus shifts from each committee’s work to a goal One exclusively, to work on an interconnected model that ensures a methodology that supports the processing of Different global goals in a single project, so that the framework can contain New for each council on a single "focus" goal, can also include a set of Other goals.
It is worth mentioning that the Global Councils for Development Goals initiative was launched Sustainable 2018 at the 2022 World Government Summit, which constitutes A leading global platform that brings together government leaders and ministers Senior officials, decision-makers, thought leaders and specialists in affairs financial, economic and social from different countries of the world, to exchange experiences Knowledge and ideas that contribute to foreseeing the future of governments, and host A variety of workshops, sessions and initiatives focused on the latest Trends and best practices in leading governments, delivering innovative solutions To anticipate global challenges.
Dubai, March 30 (WAM) – María Juliana Ruiz, the First Lady of the Republic of Colombia, affirmed that governments should provide opportunities for women to actively participate in promoting sustainable development in societies, as they are the foundation of change and progress. Without their involvement, countries cannot enter new stages of excellence, development, and advancement in all vital fields and sectors. She emphasized that sustainability is not a choice but a necessity for societies. These statements were made during her participation in a special session at the "Sustainable Development Goals Forum" held at the World Government Summit 2022.
Her Excellency said: “There is no doubt that the SDG Forum represents a very important event, as it discusses topics of great importance to communities in fighting poverty, providing quality education and health, and empowering Women and other global goals endorsed by countries in the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, These urgent goals require serious work and alignment of national development plans worldwide with the Sustainable Development Goals, with policies designed to enhance their achievement."
She also expressed her strong belief in the power of partnerships and collective action to achieve these global goals, stating that she believed it is the best way to achieve efficiency and effectiveness in each of the 17 goals, which form ideal soil To cultivate in them our humanity for children, mothers and the elderly, as well as for the which form an ideal ground to nurture humanity for children, mothers, the elderly, and for the planet we all inhabit.
Furthermore, she discussed Colombia’s experience in working towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. She stated, "Colombia possesses valuable experience in human resource development, particularly in women’s empowerment. The percentage of higher education among Colombian women has increased, and a national strategy has been developed to enhance the skills of the youth in Colombia, along with legislation to curb violence in society, and other initiatives related to childhood, education, and health."
We are proud to have an agenda to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. We have sufficient capacity to achieve these goals through the presence of plans to implement them, Colombia is keen to support positive change, and women are the focus of This change, and we must unite efforts to work together, towards a better future.
Her Excellency concluded her speech by stressing that the World Government Summit Platform Inspiring governments and nations with the participation of leaders who inspire people, and on the ground The UAE, which has a world-leading experience, including Actively participate in supporting the Sustainable Development Goals.
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