Abu Dhabi's acting DED undersecretary highlights emirate's robust manufacturing sector at UNIDO General Conference

• Manufacturing contributes 12% to emirate’s GDP
• Economic Vision 2030 targets 60% non-oil revenue
• Abu Dhabi building bridges to harness 4^th Industrial Revolution potential

Abu Dhabi, UAE:– Abu Dhabi’s Acting Undersecretary of the Department of Economic Development H.E. Rashid Abdulkareem Al Baloushi has emphasised the role of Abu Dhabi’s manufacturing sector in the Emirate’s economic development, with the sector showing 6% real-term growth in 2018 to raise its GDP contribution to over 12%. H.E. Al Baloushi remarks came during the second day of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) General Conference in Abu Dhabi. 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. Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, the UAE Minister of Energy and Industry, was on Sunday elected President of the biennial event. 

Speaking at a special side-event titled “Achieving the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) through Entrepreneurship and Innovation: A Regional Perspective for African and Arab Countries”, H.E Al Baloushi said: “As part of Abu Dhabi’s roadmap for future progress, our Economic Vision 2030 aims for  non-oil activities to contribute over 60% of the emirate’s overall GDP by 2030. Abu Dhabi’s industrial sector is recognised as one the emirate’s engines of future growth, and is a critical component of meeting our diversification goals.”

The event considered the opportunities being unlocked by the 4th Industrial Revolution for nations across the Arab world and Africa. The discussion centred on the challenges facing entrepreneurship and innovation in the region, with participants discussing ways that innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems could be enhanced.

H.E Al Baloushi added: “For Abu Dhabi and the UAE, women and the youth are the two demographics increasingly important to achieving the United Nations SDGs. That’s why the Abu Dhabi Vision 2030 emphasises the need to empower these demographics, along with entrepreneurs, to build a diversified and sustainable knowledge economy led by young Emirati talent. The Emirate of Abu Dhabi offers a dynamic, flexible and competitive economy backed by sound leadership to deliver a promising environment for entrepreneurs and investors. The Department of Economic Development has created a raft of programmes to stimulate the investment climate, increase local production within Abu Dhabi, enhance the overall business environment, develop competitiveness and encourage innovation.”

Also speaking at the event, Bahrain’s Vice President of the Supreme Council for Environment Sheikh Faisal bin Rashid bin Isa Al Khalifa, offered greetings to the leaders of the UAE, and reaffirmed the strong relationships between the two nations. He pointed to GCC-wide institutions such as the GCC Development Fund as crucial drivers of industrialisation and sustainable development. Bahrain has previously received USD 7.5 billion in developmental aid from the Fund.

The side-event was one in a series of high-level sessions complementing a main agenda focusing on themes including: Youth and Entrepreneurship, Gender, Industry 4.0, Sustainable Energy, Industrial Parks and the Circular Economy. UNIDO, along with financial development institutions, universities, and public-private partnership vehicles, plays a key role in enhancing foreign and domestic direct investment for sustainable industrialisation.

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Press Office for:
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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