Sharjah 24 – WAM: The UAE’s Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) hosted the fifth session of its ‘Future of Industry Dialogue’ series. Convening relevant local entities operating in the defence sector, the virtual meeting falls within the framework of the Ministry’s continued efforts to boost the UAE’s industrial sector and enhance the competitiveness of local products.
Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and Sarah bint Yousef Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Technology, met with Brigadier Dr. Eng Mubarak Saeed bin Ghafan Al Jabri, Head of Communications and Information Technology at the UAE Armed Forces, and other officials.
The two ministers engaged with the participants, listening to their views regarding the development of the UAE’s defence sector, following the success of the International Defence Exhibition & Conference (IDEX) and Naval Defence and Maritime Security Exhibition (NAVDEX) 2021.
The meeting explored the future of the national defence industry and areas of focus during the upcoming period, such as entrepreneurship, advanced technology, Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) solutions, national talent development, strategic partnerships with major global manufacturers, and strengthening R&D.
Dr. Al Jaber also reviewed the strategic objectives of the Ministry. These include developing national industries, enhancing the competitiveness of UAE products, and encouraging innovation, in addition to creating an enabling environment and incentives, such as funding for R&D and attracting specialized talent. MoIAT’s mandate also involves laying the foundations for industries of the future, such as the defense, space, digital and aerospace sectors.
For her part, Sarah bint Yousef Al Amiri said, "The defence sector is one of the pillars of UAE industry, a key driver of growth for the country’s industrial sector and one of the most important investors in R&D and advanced technology. We at MoIAT seek to support the journey of this strategic sector by providing facilities and incentives that drive technological transformation."
MoIAT launched the ‘Future of Industry Dialogue’, a series of ongoing high-level virtual meet-ups, in February 2021 to establish a new collaborative framework for building long-term synergies between government and industry in the UAE. Reflecting the UAE’s commitment to developing the national industrial ecosystem, the initiative focuses on identifying and mitigating sector-specific challenges, and developing innovative regulatory, logistical, and financing frameworks to drive sustainable industrial development and pave the way for the country to achieve its aspirations in a post-COVID-19 world.
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