Delivering sustainable growth is the objective of the major economic forum on the development of the Al Gharbia region.
Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Western Region, and an initiative by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), the 3rd Al Gharbia Development Forum was held today, highlighting the progress in economic, business and social developments in the Western Region, where the majority of Abu Dhabi's oil and gas industry is situated.
Organised by MEED, the Forum was attended by government officials and senior representatives of local, regional and international businesses.
"Under its wise leadership, the UAE is undoubtedly looking at a bright future. The country marches steadily towards cementing its leading position and valuable role in global progress", said H.E. Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth, and Community Development in his opening speech at the forum.
"The UAE enjoys enormous annual development rates, where the economy is becoming increasingly dependent on developing non-oil sectors, and an efficient and effective private sector that contributes to diversifying the economy, sources of income, and fields of production, supported by a strong capability to compete on a global level, and characterised by fast transformation into a knowledge based economy", he added.
H.E. Sheikh Nahyan stressed the UAE's focus on optimising the use of resources, with the country's wise leadership placing education, health and human development as top priorities, while upholding values, culture, and heritage. He also pointed out that enabling the UAE's citizens is the main focus of any and all efforts by the government.
"The relationship between culture and development, and spreading both across the community, is essential to embedding development in the country. This will also lead to such development being an important channel to promote national identity, and a true tool to strengthen hope in a bright future", H.E. Sheikh Nahyan continued.
H.E. Sheikh Nahyan also indicated that this forum, which focusses on the development of Al Gharbia, is an example of the effort being put in to securing suitable investments while maintaining the region's environment and culture, supported by the joint responsibilities of families, businessmen, cultural and educational institutions, government departments, and civil society organisations in order to achieve this goal.
In conclusion, H.E. Sheikh Nahyan pointed out the leading role of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Western Region, and his objective to achieve comprehensive sustainable development across all Al Gharbia cities. He also stressed that the Ministry of Culture always seeks to provide suggestions to achieve and foster this desired cultural atmosphere in the Western Region.
"The Abu Dhabi 2030 Economic Vision is primarily based on diversifying the Emirate's economy and achieving sustainable development by working to develop non-oil strategic sectors, including industry, agriculture, business, energy, foreign investments, and others for which infrastructure is largely available in Al Gharbia", said H.E. Ali Majed Al Mansoori, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development.
"The Al Gharbia Development Forum has become a key platform for highlighting major development projects in various cities in the Western Region. The Abu Dhabi wise government is dedicating great care and attention to the Western Region as it constitutes 60% of the total area of Abu Dhabi, and continues to generate 40% of the its GDP, with its several towns, cities, and remote islands that qualify Al Gharbia to be a solid ground for the Emirate's future generations", he continued.
"The investment potential and capabilities of Al Gharbia are a major attraction for foreign investors, especially with major development projects underway in energy, tourism, manufacturing, agriculture, and others. This important annual forum poses a chance to announce such major projects, and to highlight their added value to economic development across Abu Dhabi and the UAE", Al Mansoori stressed.
H.E. Ali Majed Al Mansoori also pointed to the unwavering care and attention of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Western Region, towards implementing development projects in Al Gharbia, which comes in line with directions of Abu Dhabi's wise leadership towards promoting the role of the Western Region by utilising its resources and potential.
H.E. Al Mansoori also mentioned that ADDED is preparing to open a main branch in Madinat Zayed, thus promoting the overall role of ADDED in Al Gharbia through ADDED's Abu Dhabi Business Centre and Industry Development Bureau. He also stressed ADDED's efforts to keep up with the developments witnessed by Al Gharbia in business, trade, industry, and investment, in addition to its key legal and legislative role manifested by facilitating all procedures for clients, businessmen, and investors.
H.E Chairman of ADDED expressed his hope that the 3rd Al Gharbia Development Forum achieves its objectives aiming to provide a clear view to participating businessmen and investors on investment opportunities in Al Gharbia, as well as presenting Abu Dhabi Government's insight into all future development projects in Al Gharbia.
"The Al Gharbia Development Forum has been held successfully over the last two years, aiming to highlight the huge potential that this region offers. Our focus for this year is to work together with our key stakeholders from government and private sector entities in order to achieve sustainable economic growth across Al Gharbia", said H.E. Mohamed Hamad bin Azzan Al Mazrouei, Undersecretary of the Ruler's Representative Court in the Western Region.
"The forum provides investors, businesses and entrepreneurs with fresh insights about the Western Region's key sectors. It also highlights major development projects that are underway and the opportunities available for investors and businesses in the region", he added.
The Western Region has an area of 40,000 square kilometres in size, which is about 60% of Abu Dhabi Emirate's landmass. It embraces a rich natural environment with ample resources including desert dunes and 350 kilometres of unspoiled coastline. It is the land route for goods and people travelling between Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
The forum has seen updates on real estate, retail, and hospitality & leisure projects, in addition to highlighting the role of a number of entities in achieving sustainable development in Al Gharbia, including Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) - represented by the Industry Development Bureau, ADNOC, Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development, Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), Department of Municipal Affairs (DMA), Urban Planning Council (UPC), Musanada, ADWEA, Masdar, Borouge, the Higher Corporation for Specialized Economic Zones (ZonesCorp), and the Abu Dhabi National Chemicals Company (ChemaWEyaat).
"MEED is delighted to be working again with our valued partners on the third edition of the Al Gharbia Development Forum," says Edmund O'Sullivan, MEED Events Chairman. "It is the definitive event for all those looking to do business in and with the Western Region, Abu Dhabi and the UAE. The Western Region is an engine of the economy of the whole region and the opportunities that will emerge there in the next decade are exceptional."
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About the Third Annual Al Gharbia Development Forum:
Held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler's Representative in the Western Region, the Al Gharbia Development Forum is an annual event dedicated to emerging investment and business opportunities in Al Gharbia, Abu Dhabi's Western Region, which is poised to become the UAE's next development hotspot.
The Forum, organised by MEED, is an initiative by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) and it showcases a range of critical investment opportunities identified in Al Gharbia's Investment Roadmap. These include various services and development projects within key economic sectors such as petrochemicals, oil and gas, infrastructure, transport, housing, mixed use projects like retail, manufacturing, education, healthcare, agriculture and food processing as well as government and community services.
Year on year, the forum commands the attention of Abu Dhabi's government leaders, the private sector and international investors as it defines the agenda for businesses in Al Gharbia over the next few years.
The esteemed sponsors are:
Diamond Sponsor: ADNOC, Platinum Sponsors: Abu Dhabi Chamber and Al Foah, Gold Sponsors: Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority and Etihad Rail, Silver Sponsor: ADIB and the Bronze Sponsor: Abu Dhabi Farmers' Services Centre.
© Press Release 2015
