DUBAI, Aug 1st, 2009: Emirates Competitiveness Council (ECC) organized a two-day workshop titled "Competiveness - From Theory to Practice, From Practice to Policy" to discuss the role of national talent in the implementation of the competitiveness strategies approved by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
The workshop was held in The Palace Hotel in Dubai and was attended by members of the Competitiveness Champions team, which was recently formed as part of the ECC and consisting of leaders from Federal and local Government entities as well as representatives from the private sector. The workshop, the second of its kind, was organized as part of ECCs ongoing endeavor to build capacity of national talent by introducing them to global competitiveness approaches and strategies.. The Competitiveness Champions team was formed to ensure the successful implementation of the competitiveness strategies that have been articulated to enhance the UAEs competitiveness. The UAEs competitiveness approach includes various initiatives to develop new sectors in the economy, and further enhance collaboration between the government and private sectors to achieve sustainable development and prosperity for the citizens and residents of the UAE. Commenting on the importance of the transition from strategy to implementation and policy development H.E. Secretary General Abdullah Nasser Lootah said, "The first day of the workshop highlighted the importance of "Competitiveness Champions" team and their role in achieving the highest levels of competitiveness for the UAE both regionally and globally. Initiatives and policies that would enhance the competitiveness of all sectors were also discussed." "The ECC seeks to train qualified national in accordance with the best international standards, refine their skills, enrich their knowledge and give them the opportunity to share their experiences with leading experts in this field", he added. Mechanisms to implement competitiveness strategies and theories in the UAE were discussed on the second day of the workshop which also included an interactive session with Dr. David Flood, a leading international expert in implementation of competitiveness policies. He stressed the importance of dialogue between the government and private sectors in order to develop each sector and strengthen the overall economic performance of the United Arab Emirates. The participants discussed the role of the public and private sectors in the implementation of competitiveness strategies at the local and Federal levels in the UAE and the main challenges associated with it. Dr. Flood brings a bredth of economic development and competitiveness experience. He has worked on a number of key engagements including leading an economic team within US A.I.D and overseeing development projects in Asia, Europe, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. His experience includes advisory services to the development of different economic sectors such as tourism, and information technology in several countries, including Thailand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Dr. also brings experience from working within several major international organizations such as the World Bank and the United Nations. The Emirates Competitiveness Council (ECC) was formed in May 2009 under the direction of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. The Council is comprised of representatives from the seven emirates and the federal government, as well as the private sector. Working together in partnership with the public and private entities the council enacts policies and undertakes actions which will drive the UAEs competitiveness and unites the country towards achieving the nations vision for sustainable growth and prosperity. The ECC's responsibilities include development of strategic policies and initiatives to enhance the competitiveness of all sectors in UAE and the preparation and publication of regular reports to assess national competitiveness, and improve dialogue between the government and private sectors.Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2009.
