Held in cooperation with Dubai Municipality and Dubai Shopping Festival Office

Distributed 400 plants among employees

Dubai, June 10, 2008: The Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED) has launched a series of environment-friendly initiatives to mark World Environment Day. The celebrations were attended by the management and the employees of DED and held in cooperation with Dubai Municipality and Dubai Shopping festival Office (DSFO). The initiative was aimed at promoting general awareness about sustainable environmental practices that will assure a safer, cleaner and 'green' environment for the generations to come.

The activities were inaugurated by a video of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan stressing on the importance of the environment in our daily lives.

Highlights of the World Environment Day celebrations by DED included lectures on the negative effects of smoking followed by an offer to exchange each cigarette packet with a green plant. At the event, 400 green plants donated by Dubai Municipality were distributed among the attendees.

Dubai Municipality also encouraged all DED employees to examine the exhausts of their cars by offering a specialized apparatus. In a further step to leverage environmental practices, paper recycling containers were distributed among DED employees to collect used papers in return for an amount of money that will be given as donations to charity homes.

The activities also included dedicating a special area for children where they were engaged in a number of fun activities such as face paintings, coloring and games. A huge cake and breakfast boxes were offered to the children as the characters of Mudhesh and Barney joined them in the feast.

"The activities highlight DED's commitment to the Green Dubai vision announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The program of activities come in line with DED's continuous efforts to encourage environmental friendly practices to offer better life conditions to residents in Dubai and the UAE," said Ali Ibrahim, Deputy Director General for Executive Affairs - DED.

He added: "The department continuously strives to uphold the distinctive position that the UAE and Dubai enjoy in the field of environment conservation by providing world class environmental guidelines and best practices. DED also reiterates its commitment to abide by all environmental related laws and regulations to ensure a healthy environment".

DED's World Environmental Day event was organized under the sponsorship of Dubai Municipality and DSFO with the support of a number of companies in the private sector such as Al Ghanem Real Estate, Ya Mal Al Sham Restaurant and Pastry, Investment Bank and La Gaufrette Coffee shops.

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About Department of Economic Development (DED):
The Department of Economic Development (DED) was established in March 1992, with the objective to organise, regulate and boost trade and industry within the Emirate of Dubai. The DED has moulded its mission of building a futuristic establishment, in accordance with the vision of the Government of Dubai and in the light of globalisation and the requirements of a digital economy. One of its key functions is to encourage local and foreign investments in commercial and industrial projects, and create the appropriate environment for investors.

The DED's other functions comprise a wide range of regulatory activities including the preparation and maintenance of a commercial register and the supervision of all organisations. The DED is responsible for regulating the affairs of commercial agents and brokers and commercial advertising offices, in addition to overseeing and controlling the insurance industry in the Emirate. Examining the participation of the government in the private sector and representing the government in companies where it has a stake, also comes under the purview of the DED.

For further information, please contact:
Nedal Alasaad/Nafisa Marzouki
ASDA'A Public Relations
P O Box 28063, Dubai, UAE
Tel: (971 4) 3344550
Email: n.alasaad@asdaa.com, n.marzouki@asdaa.com  

© Press Release 2008