Participants express satisfaction on the structure of the unique programme
Sharjah - The participants of the second Public Private Partnership Programme of the Sharjah Tatweer Forum have expressed their satisfaction on the structure and conduct of the exercise. The concluding session of the programme was held at the Millennium Hotel in Sharjah today.
Over 30 heads of government organisations and private enterprises participated in the second PPP programme of the Sharjah Tatweer Forum, whose first session was held in January 2008.
The PPP programme is conducted under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of Supreme Council, Ruler of Sharjah and the Honorary Chairman of Sharjah Tatweer Forum.
In the concluding session, the participants of the PPP programme discussed and deliberated on all the previous sessions. They expressed their intent to work on projects that would help in the betterment of society at large. Many participants also agreed to continue networking with other participants of the programme.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Hussain Al Mahmoudi, Chairman, Sharjah Tatweer Forum, said: 'The Public Private Partnership programme was aimed at sharing best practices between the Public and Private sectors and further work jointly towards developing solutions and services for the betterment of the community. We can proudly state that we made significant progress in this regard during the course of the PPP programme. I am certain that Sharjah would witness new joint initiatives being undertaken, soon.'
He added: 'On behalf of Sharjah Tatweer Forum, I thank His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, for his vision and support in helping the Forum achieve its goals and objectives. We are thankful to all the participants who took time off their busy schedules to attend all sessions of the programme, and demonstrating their keenness for the best to come out of this initiative of Sharjah Tatweer Forum.'
During the programme, that was held over five months, the participants indulged in different activities including field visits, analytical and team-work exercises and expert lectures. Separate meetings were organized for the participants of both the sectors on the sidelines of the sessions.
The Sharjah Tatweer Forum had contracted the Washington DC-headquartered Institute of Public Private Partnerships (IP3) to undertake its PPP programme. IP3 has managed hundreds of PPP training programmes in more than 45 countries around the world.
During the sessions, experts were invited to provide requisite strategic inputs to the participants in developing a sound PPP initiative. In one of the sessons, Mr. Cess Uijlenhoet, Vice President, Upstream Finance - Middle East, Caspian Sea and South Asia, Shell Group, talked in detail about the need of a strategic plan for every project, applicable to corporate, local or national level. He explained the need for partnerships between different sectors to achieve the objectives of any plan
In another session, senior executives from Booz Allen Hamilton, a global strategy and technology consulting firm, discussed the need for developing the right strategies for the success of any PPP initiative. The executives provided examples of successful PPP projects undertaken in different parts of the world, and stressed the need to develop best practices.
An idea to set up a Public Private Partnership (PPP) Council has been mooted at the programme. The primary objective of the Council will be to create awareness about co-operation between the Public and Private sectors. It will also work towards increasing overall competitiveness of the emirate of Sharjah by bringing the two sectors together. Such a Council will help address the opportunities and challenges facing different industries in the emirate.
Lt. Colonel Dr. Abdullah Ali Saeed Bin Sahoo, General Manager, Sharjah Passport and Immigration Department, a participant representing the public sector, said: 'The Public Private Partnership Programme of the Sharjah Tatweer Forum has provided a platform for both public and private sectors to come together. The interactions we have had during the programme have been mutually beneficial for both the sectors. We are certain that the Programme would lead to many joint initiatives being implemented in Sharjah in the coming days.'
Mr. Ali Al Fathi of the Gulftainer Company Limited, a participant representing the private sector, said: 'Every session of the PPP programme was well structured, the quality of speakers exceptional and the commitment of the participants commendable. The programme was a perfect networking opportunity for the representative of both the sectors and created a channel of communication between them. The Sharjah Tatweer Forum deserves accolades for conducting such a unique programme. The sessions will lay the foundation stone for PPP initiatives in Sharjah.'
The PPP programme aims to foster public private partnership and encourages the private sector to play a greater role in the economic and social development activities in Sharjah as well as promote the opportunities in the emirate in the fields of culture, commerce, industry and tourism. It is aimed at promoting closer working relationships and sharing of best practices between organisations from both public and private sectors.
The Programme highlighted opportunities in Sharjah in a variety of sectors including culture, commerce, industry and tourism. The PPP programme was aimed at enhancing the relationship between the government departments and private sector and creating an environment to lure young Nationals to take work in the Sharjah. One of the objectives of the Programme is to help develop a combined approach to the overall development of the emirates' competitiveness.
du, the new telecommunications company in the UAE, is a supporter of the Public Private Partnership programme of the Sharjah Tatweer Forum.
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About Sharjah Tatweer Forum
The Sharjah Tatweer Forum was formed under a decree issued by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council, Ruler of Sharjah and the Honorary Chairman
of Sharjah Tatweer Forum. The Forum is geared towards developing the skills and competencies of National youth in Sharjah, forging effective collaboration between the private and public sectors, and
encouraging entrepreneurship, innovation and excellence in business and administration that will ultimately ensure the emirate's overall progress.
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© Press Release 2008
