PHOTO
The UAE’s Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) met with local and international entities and academia invested in advanced technology during the third session of its Future of Industry Dialogue series.
The previous two editions had focussed on heavy, and food and beverage industries respectively.
The ministry said in a statement that the third virtual session discussed how advanced technology could aid post-COVID-19 recovery and pave the way for alternative business models in the future.
In his opening remarks, the Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Sultan bin Ahmad Al Jaber praised the role of technology companies in ensuring the UAE’s resilience during “this exceptional time.”
He said: “During this time of rapid transformation, the UAE was able to quickly pivot to the new normal following the initial outbreak of the pandemic. This agility can be attributed in large measure to the continuous investments in advanced technology and artificial intelligence (AI), as well as to our strategic partnerships with the private sector.”
He emphasised that the UAE has begun to build cutting-edge infrastructure, develop agile policy frameworks and shape cybersecurity regulations to spur future industrial growth through leveraging 4IR solutions.
Meanwhile, Minister of State Al Amiri pointed out that the pandemic has greatly accelerated the UAE’s shift to a knowledge-based economy driven by 4IR technologies. Although this model already existed prior to the pandemic, it gained momentum in the UAE and in other countries as a direct outcome of the disruption and digital acceleration during the pandemic.
She continued: “Recognising that the future focuses on knowledge, R&D, and technology, the UAE has established MoIAT to realise its ambition to lead 4IR and fast-track the transition to a knowledge-based economy."
She said the ministry’s focus areas for the future include space, medical technology, water and food security and diversification of energy sources.
During third session of the virtual dialogue, Al Jaber, and Minister of State for Advanced Technology Sarah bint Yousif Al Amiri met with Faisal Al Bannai, Secretary General, Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC); Badr Al Olama, Executive Director –Mubadala Investment Company; Ismail Ali Abdulla, CEO of Strata; Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO, Masdar; Eric Xing, President of MBZUAI; Peng Xiao, Group CEO, G42; Dalya Al Muthanna, President – Gulf, GE International Markets; Dietmar Siersdorfer, Managing Director – Middle East, Siemens Energy; Norm Gilsdorf, President, Honeywell High Growth Regions; Abdul Rahman Al Thehaiban, Senior Vice President – MEA & CEE, Oracle; Yasir Jamal, Vice President – Supply Chain, Unilever; Selim J Eddé, Director & Head of Government Affairs & Public Policy, Google Middle East and North Africa, and Reem Asaad, Vice President – Middle East & Africa, Cisco.
MoIAT launched the high-level Future of Industry Dialogue initiative, a series of ongoing high-profile virtual meetups, in February 2021 to establish a collaborative framework to build long-term synergies between government and industry.
(Writing by Syed Ameen Kader; Editing by Anoop Menon)
Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. The content does not provide tax, legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability, value or profitability of any particular security, portfolio or investment strategy. Read our full disclaimer policy here.
© ZAWYA 2021
