Officials commend achievements of MoIAT

In this context, Abdullah Mohamed Almazrui, Chairman of the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, emphasised that MoIAT since its establishment was able to set up a business environment that aims to boost the UAE’s industrial sector, increase its competitiveness and support the growth of SMEs while giving the priority for national industries to enable them access international markets.

He added that the Ministry realised many achievements by supporting advanced industries that are based on the technologies of the fourth industrial revolution in its bid to implement the "Operation 300bn" initiative of raising the industrial sector’s contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) from AED133 billion to AED300 billion by 2031.

Almazrui pointed out that the Federation of UAE Chambers is a key strategic partner to the MoIAT, saying that it works within an integrated ecosystem with other public and private entities to support the Ministry’s plans and strategies of accelerating industrial development in the UAE.

"The Ministry is an active contributor to creating a diverse knowledge-based economy while realising industrial self-sufficiency. This will help the UAE transform into a regional and international hub for industries of the future; encouraging innovation and adopting advanced industrial solutions; and outlining the role of Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI) in enabling smart industry transformation," he added.

Ahmed Mohamed Al Naqbi, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Development Bank, said that in line with its new strategy launched in April 2021, Emirates Development Bank is a key financial enabler and engine for the UAE’s economic diversification and industrial transformation agenda, as well as the driver of the adoption of advanced technology. "The bank is spearheading the economic growth as part of its mandate to support the industrial sector and aims to boost its contribution to the country’s GDP by supporting the SMEs, startups, and large corporates in priority sectors and supporting the adoption of advanced technology across industries and all levels of the supply and value chain."

Abdulnasser bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said, "Our cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology enables EGA to work with others to achieve our bold aspirations for the future, both for our company and our nation. In 2021, we joined the In-County Value programme, a step forward in growing our economic contribution in the UAE. EGA already accounts for 1.4 percent of the economy, and by further localising procurement we will grow that further and help achieve the goals of Operation 300bn. We were also pleased to join the Industry 4.0 champions network, to share our experience with others to innovate the future of aluminium production and other industries."

Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi, Group CEO of Arkan and CEO of Emirates Steel, said, "The MoIAT’s 2021 Annual Report embodies the Ministry’s efforts for a whole year in promoting the national industry and opening new developmental horizons for it. This is aligned with the vision of the UAE’s wise leadership to sharpen the role of the industrial sector in supporting sustainable development and maximising the presence of the national products in global markets. However, this is to be done with a focus on future industries that depend on advanced technology and the solutions of the Fourth Industrial Revolution."

Al Remeithi stressed that the report will be a reliable and transparent reference that reflects the country's industrial directions during 2021 and the continuation of those efforts during 2022. This helps to achieve the goals of the UAE Centennial 2071 and transform the UAE into an international hub for industries of the future.

Marwan bin Jasim Al Sarkal, Executive Chairman, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), said, "Since its establishment, the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) has been at the forefront of establishing and strengthening UAE’s lucrative investment ecosystem and drive its economic diversification to new heights. Thanks to its visionary strategy for developing UAE’s industrial sector through partnerships with public and private sectors, the ministry kickstarted its UAE’s industrial strategy, "Operation 300bn", which represents an important milestone to recognise common aspirations and ambitions of UAE’s public and federal sectors to strengthen and boost productivity and economic infrastructure."

Al Sarkal affirmed that the ministry has accelerated the practice of adopting advanced technologies across the industrial value chain in the UAE and Sharjah, which prompted the growth and prosperity of national industrial products and enhanced their global competitiveness. "As part of our mission and vision to contribute in the advancement of our nation’s industrial sectors, Shurooq was among the first to join The National In-Country Value (ICV) Programme, an initiative by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, as part of our collective efforts to boost economic performance and support local industries."

Ahmed Khashan, President Gulf Countries, Schneider Electric, said, "The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology is spearheading the UAE’s transformation into a global manufacturing hub for Industry 4.0. We’re seeing how the government is leveraging advanced technologies to create future-proof industries. What is more, there’s a focus on sustainability and building energy and water-efficient factories. We are fully supportive of these initiatives, and we are proud to be able to partner with the MoIAT to make the UAE the home of the factories of the future."