UAE's Minister Al Mazrouei announced president of the UNIDO general conference in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, UAE : – H.E. Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, the UAE Minister of Energy and Industry, was announced as the President of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization’s (UNIDO) General Conference earlier today. The five-day event, which is being held at Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi from 3-8 November 2019, brings together member states under the theme of ‘Industry 2030 – Innovate. Connect. Transform our Future’.

H.E. Al Mazrouei assumed the Presidency in the presence of global leaders including the President of Madagascar, His Excellency Andry Rajoelina; President of the Republic of Niger, His Excellency Mahamadou Issoufou; and Deputy Prime Minister of Vanuatu, His Excellency Jotham Napat Nauka. 

Welcoming dignitaries from UNIDO member states, H.E. Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Industry said: “Awarding Abu Dhabi the honour of hosting the 18th session of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization General Conference is a testament to the UAE’s ongoing efforts to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and support the spread of innovation and inclusive sustainable development on a global level.”

Tasked with delivering the host country statement on behalf of the UAE, H.E. Al Mazrouei expressed gratitude for the country’s selection as host for the global event. The 2019 General Conference is only the fourth time the biennial event has been held outside its headquarters in Vienna, Austria.

H.E. Al Mazrouei also emphasised the UAE’s commitment to diversified industrial development, which has seen the nation rise 13 spots on the UNIDO Industrial Competitiveness Index over the last ten years. In 2018, the UAE ranked 41st on the index, compared to 54th in 2010. The UAE also ranked first regionally, and fifth globally, on the 2019 Global Competitiveness Yearbook report issued by the Global Competitiveness Centre, and third globally on the Economic Diversity Index.

In his address, H.E. Rajoelina, President of Madagascar, also paid tribute to the UAE’s progress. President Rajoelina heralded the UAE as a progressive “symbol of transformation and modernisation”, declaring the country one of the world’s “great destinations”. President Rajoelina also lauded the UAE’s vision and determination in transforming the desert into a monument of modernisation, noting its progress serves as an “excellent example” to countries such as Madagascar.

While wishing participants in Abu Dhabi success for the week, H.E. Al Mazrouei pointed to the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit, a joint initiative by UNIDO and the UAE, as an example of collaboration and concerted action. The initiative is the world-first platform uniting global industry leaders, academia, civil society and investors in a common platform designed to shape the future of the manufacturing sector in light of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

H.E Al Mazrouei noted that all the member states that are gathered in Abu Dhabi are marking their continued commitment to collaborate towards the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, while also supporting UNIDO on its mandate of achieving inclusive and sustainable industrial development.

H.E. Al Mazrouei added: “As Member States of UNIDO, we need to spearhead efforts to develop an advanced industrial sector based on knowledge and innovation. This will be most visibly recognised in the progress countries make on Sustainable Development Goal 9 – to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation.”

The five-day UNIDO General Conference encompasses a series of high-level side events complementing a main agenda focused on themes including: Youth and Entrepreneurship, Gender, Industry 4.0, Sustainable Energy, Industrial Parks and the Circular Economy. The event will also focus its attention on the UNIDO 2030 Agenda in support of meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  

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Press Office for:
UNIDO General Conference
+971 55 35 00715 / reethu@m3media.com 

About the Ministry of Energy and Industry in the United Arab Emirates

With the emergence of the United Arab Emirates in 1971, in the first cabinet formation, the Ministry was established In 2004, the Ministry of Electricity and Water and the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Wealth were merged together to form “The Ministry of Energy”. In 2016, the water portfolio was transferred to the Ministry to achieve the Water Security. Moreover, with the cabinet reshuffle

in 2017, the industry portfolio was given to the Ministry to become “the Ministry of Energy and Industry” to ensure the organization, proposal of policies and the preparation of future strategies for the development of the industry sector, aiming for the enhancement of the state’s efforts in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and strengthen efforts to increase the local content in the industry.

Furthermore, in order to contribute in achieving the UAE 2021 vision, the Ministry endeavors to achieve the indicators of the national, competitive and strategic agenda to pioneer and ensure the UAE is among the best countries in the world. In addition to highlight the pivotal role played globally by the United Arab Emirates in the energy and industry sectors through developing policies, legislations and strategies in coordination with the relevant stakeholders to achieve security, sustainability and competitiveness. The Ministry also works on the development of roadmaps to ensure the implementation of the strategies and conducts specialized and innovative studies and research according to the best global practices. Furthermore, the Ministry conducts surveys, develops databases and disseminates information and statistics on the relevant sectors.

The Ministry of Energy and Industry is keen to support and coordinate efforts, in addition to launching innovative initiatives; as it succeeded in developing the first National Energy Strategy 2050 at the regional level, where it was applied through the first laboratory for the future at the state level and it launched as well the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036 along with the National Strategy for Innovation in water sector. The Ministry successfully convened the deregulation of the fuel prices and the adoption of a pricing mechanism in accordance with international prices through coordination with the fuel distribution companies in August 2015. The latest endeavor of the Ministry is the operation of the Emirates National Grid Project through the Project Synergy which explores the potential for integrated planning.

The Ministry is working on providing services that meet the expectations of customers and achieve their happiness and positivizes. The total number of key services provided by the Ministry to the customers reached, including: Services of geological and geophysical maps and reports, the issuance of a preliminary approval certificate, the issuance of industrial production license and the request of a customs exemption on raw materials, machinery and equipment used in the industrial production, which are provided through electronic and smart interfaces and communication channels.

The Ministry of Energy and Industry focuses on investing in human capital to attract national and specialized competencies and raise the capacity to ensure the acquisition of knowledge that contributes to the accomplishment of achievements and working to strengthen the role of women in work and take into account gender balance.

© Press Release 2019