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DATA FOR A BETTER FUTURE
1,600 contestants representing 400 teams of young talents specialized in the fields of artificial intelligence and data science from the UAE and around the world participated in the activities of the United Nations Datathon 2023 platform, which was held in the UAE under the auspices of the United Nations, in the presence of data science specialists from the most prominent universities in the Arab region and the world.
Datathon 2023 is a participatory platform that supports and motivates young talents, organized in partnership between the Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications Office, the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC), and the Federal Youth Authority, with the support of academic institutions in the country.
The platform aims to enhance the leadership of the United Arab Emirates globally in the fields of artificial intelligence applications and data science, and to raise awareness of the importance of this sector in shaping future pathways.
Her Excellency Hanan Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre said that the UN Datathon serves as a platform for exploring and developing advanced solutions and innovative projects based on the outputs of the rapid evolution of emerging technologies. These can be employed to address various challenges in current and future vital sectors.
Her Excellency emphasized that the UN Datathon encompasses various domains of emerging and advanced technology, spanning data analysis, big data, artificial intelligence, smart conversational robots, blockchain, metaverse, augmented reality, 3D and 4D printing technology, along with several other emerging technologies. The aim is to harness the innovations of youth in these fields to contribute to building more advanced and prosperous societies. H.E. Mohammed Hassan, the Executive Director of the National Statistics and Data Science Sector at FCSC, asserted that the UN Datathon platform will strengthen communication among the youth of the UAE and their counterparts worldwide. It will provide a supportive environment for participants to develop solutions that address the challenges and rapidly changing dynamics in various fields. This, in turn, contributes to supporting efforts to achieve sustainable development goals.
His Excellency stated that participants in the United Nations Datathon 2023 will have the opportunity to engage in numerous sessions designed in an interactive and stimulating format, enabling them to unleash their creativity and enhance a culture of teamwork and collaborative work aimed at maximizing the utilization of available resources.
It is worth mentioning that the Open Data Datathon is one of the global initiatives organized in the UAE, in conjunction with the main event organized in the Republic of Uruguay, under the auspices of the United Nations, and the UAE represents an accredited regional platform for organizing data for the Middle East and North Africa region, with the aim of facilitating the entry of participants in the global competition.
The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre announced the launch of the Statistics Youth Council, as part of its initiatives aimed at empowering youth in the fields of statistics, and enhancing their role in developing innovative ideas and experiences, through a platform for exchanging knowledge, expertise and successful experiences; whilst also providing an opportunity for youth to contribute to the development of statistical methodologies, and forming the features of a unified national statistical system that contributes to supporting the development process of the UAE and enhancing its leadership and competitiveness globally.
The Statistics Youth Council members consists of 14 Emirati youths made up from different statistical centers at the federal and local levels across the country. The formation of the Council was announced, in the presence of His Excellency Mubarak Al Nakhi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture and Youth, Her Excellency Hanan Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, His Excellency Abdullah Al Qemzi, Acting Director General of the Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi, and a number of officials and young members of the new Council.
H.E. Mubarak Al Nakhi stressed that the establishment of the Statistics Youth Council, initiated by FCSC, to include representatives of youth from different local statistical centers in the UAE, reflects the wise leadership’s commitment to enhancing governmental integration in shaping future paths. It embodies their directives on the importance of investing in the capabilities of young national talents, building their capacities and skills, and encouraging their active contribution to the development of various government sectors.
H.E. Al Nakhi stated that the Statistics Youth Council will contribute to transforming the energy and creativity of young Emirati talents into ideas and projects that enhance the role of the statistical community in leading initiatives aimed at serving the society of the United Arab Emirates.
Hanan Ahli: Enabling young cadres to develop methodologies and innovate solutions to the challenges of the statistical sector
For her part, Her Excellency Hanan Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, stressed the importance of the role of the Council in supporting the UAE government’s directions to enhance the role of youth in various fields, and in enabling young cadres to work on developing statistical methodologies and innovating solutions to the challenges of the statistical sector in the country.
H.E. Hanan Ahli said that the council will provide a platform and an open space to build the capacities of young people, and provide them with the necessary skills and tools in the fields of statistical analysis, data and reports, and understanding changes in the economy and society at the local and regional levels. and international.
The launch of the Statistical Youth Council is part of the government initiatives aimed at supporting the efforts to implement the pillars and targets of the UAE Centennial 2071. This vision, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai (may God protect him), represents a comprehensive and long-term national vision for the next five decades. It focuses on enhancing the role of youth in building a more sustainable future, creating an incubating environment for generating innovative and creative ideas, and ensuring a better future for the coming generations.
In its third meeting, held at the Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi, the Higher Committee for Coordination of Statistical Work discussed the latest developments in the UAE’s nomination to the United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC), a number of topics related to statistical projects in the country, and ways to enhance coordination and integration between statistical centers at the federal and local levels, in order to enhance the leadership and competitiveness of the UAE government in various fields.
The meeting was attended by Sheikh Mohammed bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Statistics, H.E. Hanan Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, Abdulla Gharib Al Qemzi, Acting Director General of the Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi, Dr. Ibrahim Saad, Director of the Fujairah Statistics Center, and Najwa Yaqoub, Executive Director of the Ras Al Khaimah Center for Statistics and Studies.
The meeting came as a continuation of a series of follow-up meetings on joint statistical projects and initiatives on a country level, which aims to enhance cooperation between statistical authorities, coordinate national statistical work and implement strategies that serve the integration of government work in the country.
Dubai, Nov. 2 (WAM) — The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC) has launched an initiative to build the capabilities of its employees in the fields of programming, data science, artificial intelligence and machine learning, through a digital training platform that provides interactive courses and workshops, in partnership with the global platform "Data Camp" specialized in training and capacity building in the fields of data science and artificial intelligence.
The launch of the capacity development initiative "Grow@FCSC", was featured as part of the “Project Showcase" segment for UAE Codes 2023. This day was launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, as an annual national occasion to celebrate the community of programmers in the country on October 29 of each year.
H.E. Mohamed Hassan, Executive Director of the Statistics and Data Science Sector at the FCSC, stressed the Centre’s keenness to build the capabilities of the employees on a sustainable basis, ensuring that they keep pace with the most prominent technological developments in the fields of data science, artificial intelligence, and advanced technological solutions, in a way that enhances their capabilities and benefit from the program.
His Excellency said that the platform was developed by specialists in the fields of learning, training, institutional business intelligence and data science, pointing out that the capacity development initiative "Grow@FCSC" represents a virtual training camp centered on data science that can be accessed through participation in webinars, to enhance learning levels, and keep up-to-date with the latest developments in institutional business intelligence and data science.
The training program adopts a unique model that combines courses, workshops, and competitions which enables participants to acquire the skills and experience required to keep pace with the rapid technological advancements in data science and artificial intelligence. The participants of the program receive experience in the tracks they successfully complete, which include data engineering, business analysis, statistics and advanced modeling, machine learning skills, reporting and programming basics, and data processing and analysis. The program engages them with interactive experiences to enable the participent to acquire advanced skills in the use of tables and coding tools, taking advantage of advanced technology tools and solutions.
It is noteworthy that His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, directed the adoption of October 29 of each year, as a day of programming bearing the slogan "UAE Codes", to upgrade the capabilities of talents and pioneering minds and qualify them in the fields of programming and the use of modern technology. Dedicating a day for programming reflects the UAE government’s efforts to enhance the process of development and comprehensive digital transformation, and supports the efforts of the National Program for Coders to help talented people master and excel in the programming field, and motivate them to be ready to deal with the requirements of the future with high efficiency.
Dubai, Oct. 9 — The National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals (NSGs), in partnership with the Bostirti Institute and the Global Council on Sustainable Development Goal 13, has launched the first-of-its-kind Studio 2030 podcast that provides content on sustainability in Arabic, aimed at members of the community.
The podcast aims to provide rich content on sustainability, to keep pace with the more severe impacts of climate change, environmental, social and economic challenges in the Middle East and North Africa, and seeks to raise community awareness of the climate and sustainability challenges associated with the global sustainable development goals, by introducing them in a simplified manner, which contributes to enhancing community participation in building the future.
Studio 2030 podcast will be presented by Ibrahim Al-Zoubi, President of the Global Council for Sustainable Development Goals No. 13 (Climate Change Action), and the podcast will be broadcast across various platforms such as YouTube, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Podio, Spotify, and Anghami Podcast.
H.E. Abdullah Nasser Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange, said The Chairman of the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals said that active community participation in supporting governments’ efforts to achieve the global sustainable development goals is a key factor to accelerate the achievement of sustainability goals, and to consolidate their culture and practices as an approach to community life, pointing out that the podcast "Studio 2030" will work to enhance and build community awareness, and provide members of Arabic-speaking communities with a new perspective focused on achieving sustainability, and continuous work to address the major global challenges that we will witness in the future.
He said that the initiative of the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals to launch this platform distinguished in its content and the way it presents global sustainability challenges, comes as part of the government’s efforts to support the country’s initiatives, enhance its leading global role in shaping the future, and participate in leading the global pace seeking to achieve the global sustainable development goals.
Ibrahim Al Zoubi, President of the Global Council for Sustainable Development Goals on SDG 13 (Climate Change Action), said: "Studio 2030 podcast will present the latest developments and solutions related to the SDGs and their impact. to the world and the Middle East and Africa region in particular, and will reveal the most prominent solutions and aspects of cooperation between all segments of society to achieve these goals." "I am honored to host the most prominent minds and guests who will enrich the discussion and share their practical experiences."
Through its platform, Studio 2030 podcast brings together experts, innovators and thinkers to talk about the Sustainable Development Goals, and in each episode, its followers will discover new ideas, challenges and innovative solutions to build a more sustainable and inclusive future, in addition to the latest trends in sustainable development and its links to daily life.
The podcast series will address key global and regional trends, showcase their potential impact on the MENA region and emerging markets, and provide actionable guidance, while Studio 2030 will introduce the community to how to implement the SDGs locally, ongoing initiatives, innovative solutions and emerging technologies that allow countries to overcome challenges. The
UAE’s National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals was formed in January 2017 and chaired by H.E. Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State for International Cooperation, The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center is the secretariat of the committee, which includes the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and 13 federal government entities. The Committee aligns the SDGs with national priorities, supports the implementation of the SDGs, and collaborates with local and international partners to expand the circle of active participants in the implementation of the United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals 2030.
ABU DHABI, 27th September, 2023
Their collaboration also aims to improve the country’s stature in quality of life and competitiveness indexes related to women in international reports.
Noura Al Suwaidi, Secretary-General of the GWU, and Hanan Ahli, Director of the FCSC, signed the MoU.
Al Suwaidi stressed that the optimal utilisation of data and technology could help provide accurate information for decision-makers in a timely manner, allowing them to adopt a forward-looking vision.
She also highlighted the importance of strengthening partnerships with relevant national entities, which will allow the GWU to implement the directives of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the “Mother of the Nation", Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF), and translate them into effective initiatives and strategies that outline a sustainable future for women and strengthen the role of Emirati women in all aspects of life.
Ahli highlighted the importance of leveraging information and statistics to improve decision-making and draft policies that affect women’s empowerment.
The MoU will enable the drafting of innovative strategies and initiatives that strengthen the role of Emirati women, highlight the UAE’s related efforts, and improve the country’s performance in international competitiveness indexes, she added.
The National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals, in partnership with Emirates Transport, launched the "Road to Sustainability" campaign, which is organized as part of the UAE government’s efforts and projects in the Year of Sustainability, and within the framework of initiatives to enhance community awareness of the global sustainable development goals, and the importance of achieving them to ensure a better future for societies. A large number of government agencies and companies are participating in the campaign at the national level, and will continue until the end of 2024, and aims to spread awareness at the national level of the global goals for sustainable development.
H.E. Abdullah Lootah, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange, Deputy Chairman of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, stressed that the campaign embodies the UAE government’s approach to motivating community members to adopt a sustainable lifestyle that contributes to building a better world for future generations.
Alex Rentier, CEO of Emirates Transport, expressed the company’s blessing for this purposeful national campaign.
The campaign was launched at the Head Office Building of the Emirates Transport in Dubai, in the presence of H.E. Abdullah Lootah and Shatha Al Hashimi, an advisor in the Government Experience Exchange Office. The event included a presentation that discussed the history of transportation in the UAE since its inception and gave a brief overview of its services. Following that, the "oad to Sustainability" started from its first station at the company’s headquarters, commencing its extended agenda until the end of the next year. The campaign utilizes an electric bus provided by the company to facilitate the team’s travels to various stations, destinations, and entities across different regions of the country.
Khaled Shukr, the Director of Quality, Environment, Safety, and Occupational Health Department at Emirates Transport, explained that the electric bus has a capacity for 41 passengers in addition to the driver. It operates on a 315-kilowatt-hour battery that can be fast-charged in one hour and forty minutes (with a 180-kilowatt charger), allowing it to travel approximately 300 kilometers on a single charge.
- The event included 20 workshops in English and French discussing the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Report.
- Bilateral meetings brought the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority with high-profile visitors to explore partnership opportunities.
- Participating Ministers were gifted copies of ‘My Story’, the book authored by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Dubai, December 16, 2019
The third Doing Business Technical Deep Dive has concluded its activities in Dubai, hosted over the course of four days by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) in coordination with the UAE Ministry of Finance.
The event focused on the Ease of Doing Business Report, published by the World Bank Group. It brought together more than 350 economics experts from over 45 countries in the region and the world, covering Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and Asia.
FCSA Director General and head of the event’s organising committee His Excellency Abdulla Nasser Lootah delivered a closing speech, saying: “We were delighted to host the World Bank team and all participating delegations, ministers, lawmakers, and economists. The event included panel discussions and in-depth debate, where attendees exchanged expertise and best practices in the ease of doing business sector, strengthening efforts to enhance investment and business environments in participating economies.”
Lootah thanked partners from federal and local government entities in the UAE, as well as the private sector, for their contributions and support for the third High-Profile Doing Business Technical Deep Dive, whether by providing resources and talent, or welcoming participating delegations for field visits to showcase the UAE’s pioneering experience in the ease of doing business sector.
Meanwhile, the World Bank team extended its gratitude for the warm welcome participating delegations received, commending Emirati hospitality and the impeccable organisation of the event over its four days. World Bank officials underlined the importance of these meetings in providing a common platform for dialogue among participating countries – all included in the Ease of Doing Business Report – where they can exchange knowledge, best practices, and success stories in the field.
The sessions and workshops on the event’s agenda witnessed significant turnout from participants in the third High-Profile Doing Business Technical Deep Dive, who attended 20 workshops, prepared and delivered – in English and French – by renowned economists and experts tasked with compiling the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Report.
H.E. Lootah lauded the great turnout at the event’s activities, saying that it reflects the quality of the knowledge content it provides. “The workshops were referred to as ‘Technical Clinics’, seeing as their main objective was to remedy the challenges and obstacles facing policymakers in their plans to enhance the work environment in their countries,” he said. “The sessions are organised by World Bank experts in government policy, economics, investment, foreign trade, and mass communication.”
The event discussed the opportunities and challenges facing the drafting and improvement of laws, legislation, and procedures surrounding doing business, as well as the basic stages that all economic establishments go through, from launching operations, to securing construction permits, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors and legal rights, paying taxes, cross-border trade, enforcing contract, and handling cases of insolvency.
The organising committee sought to ensure international delegations have an authentic Emirati experience, where groups of Emirati children, dressed in traditional clothing, welcomed them with traditional rose water sprinklers to the tone of Emirati folk music during breaks between sessions. Visitors were also treated to traditional local dishes such as Batheeth, Rangeena, and Arabic coffee, served during authentic Yola and Ayala performances. Organisers presented their visitors with souvenirs inspired by the UAE’s heritage such as wicker baskets made especially for the occasion by members of the Productive Families Programme.
Prominent Visitors Applaud ‘Well Organised’ Event
The third High-Profile Doing Business Technical Deep Dive received extensive praise from renowned international visitors for being well organised, as well as for the warm welcome visitors received, which reflected Emirati values of hospitality and the UAE’s professionalism in organising global knowledge events.
The visiting dignitaries, including several ministers, convened in bilateral meetings with the FCSA team on the side lines of the Deep Dive, held in Dubai this week.
H.E. Pholile Shakantu, Minister of Justice -Eswatini, stated that the third High-Profile Doing Business Technical Deep Dive is particularly important for developing and facilitating business, offering a platform for dialogue and the exchange of creative ideas to utilise the Report and its indexes to improve laws and procedures.
Meanwhile, Senator Manqoba Khumalo, Minister of Commerce, Industry & Trade from Eswatini, applauded the event and the advanced level of communication and interaction among participants, saying that Dubai impressed him with its opulence and generosity.
For his part, HE. Oumarou Alma, Minister – Special Adviser to the President of the Niger Republic, said: “As the third High-Profile Doing Business Technical Deep Dive draws to a close, I cannot help but express my sincere gratitude to the United Arab Emirates, and to the World Bank delegation, for the warm reception and impeccable organisation. The event is a must-attend function and an unparalleled occasion for exchanging expertise, opinions, and best practices for the entities tasked with rolling out economic reforms in Africa and the Middle East.”
“I thank the UAE and the World Bank once again,” H.E. Oumarou added, “and a special thank you goes to H.E. Abdulla Lootah, Director General of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority, and his team for their constant support and their efforts to organise this event, which has made our stay in Dubai – the city of the future – all the more advantageous.”
The organising team presented visiting dignitaries with copies of ‘My Story’, the book authored by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai.
The UAE ranks among the world’s top 20 economies, and came in 16th place on the annual Ease of Doing Business Report, which tracks 190 countries around the world. The Emirates led the entire Arab region on the ranking for the seventh consecutive year. Furthermore, the UAE ranked among the international top 10 on four of the Report’s 10 categories, ranking first in the world in terms of ease of connecting to the electrical grid; third in terms of ease of securing construction permits; ninth in terms of enforcing contracts; and tenth in terms of ease of registering property.
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The emirate is hosting the event for 4 days, under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance.
- The event is organised by the World Bank Group, with the support of the UAE’s Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA).
- H.E. Hessa Buhumaid, Minister of Community Development: The UAE welcomes the findings of the Doing Business Report with an open mind, implementing them to rank among the top countries in the world on the index.
- H.E. Abdulla Lootah, FCSA Director General: The UAE uses the Report’s findings to launch projects and update legislations and procedures to be in line with reality and pave the way for a better future.
- H.E. Matthew Hawkins, New Zealand’s Ambassador to the UAE: The ease of doing business in the UAE is one of the leading factors that have made it an important business and commercial hub for our country.
Dubai, December 10, 2019
The third high-profile Doing Business Technical Deep Dive kicked off in Dubai today, hosted by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) in coordination with the Ministry of Finance.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance, the event addresses the World Bank’s Doing Business Report, bringing together a host of renowned policymakers and experts in economics and business to explore opportunities and exchange expertise.
The meeting is scheduled to take place over the course of four days, under the theme ‘Global Aspiration Towards Business Growth and Economic Prosperity”. It brings together more than 350 experts from 45 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and Asia. The agenda includes several panel discussions, workshops, lectures, and field trips to explore best practices in government entities around the UAE that have earned high global rankings on the Doing Business Report.
In her opening speech, Her Excellency Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Minister of Community Development, said: “The UAE has established partnerships with the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation that have led to a host of successes and accomplishments across various sectors. Our cooperation to support competitiveness is one of our most successful; the UAE believes in the Doing Business Report, welcomes its findings with an open mind, and implements its recommendations to advance through the ranks and assume the top spots among the countries of the world on the index.”
“Our journey with competitiveness has had its fair share of challenges and successes that have propelled the UAE to the top ranks on numerous international competitiveness indexes,” H.E. added. “What the United Arab Emirates accomplished in the past few decades, and what it still plans to accomplish, will serve as a solid foundation upon which we can build a competitive knowledge economy driven by human skills, and capable of materialising the Fourth Industrial Revolution as on-the-ground projects and initiatives that serve to achieve the UAE Centennial 2071 Plan.”
“We are gathered here today to discuss the Doing Business Report, but there are other reports we need to focus on as well,” H.E. Hessa Buhumaid explained, citing the report titled ‘Women, Business, and the Law’ and the Human Capital Index. “With an abundance of reports available, governments now look to technical committees in the World Bank to listen to opinions and suggestions from relevant entities in their respective countries, and accept their feedback with an open mind.”
For his part, His Excellency Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Director General of the FCSA, said: “We take international reports very seriously here in the UAE; we use them to launch projects and update legislations and procedures to be in line with reality and pave the way for a better future. We all have a common goal: to develop a single, unified approach for analysing and understanding the Doing Business Report and its projections for the upcoming years. We are here to exchange expertise and connect with experts and specialists.”
“I have no doubt that the World Bank team will be taking this opportunity to have a closer look at the countries covered by the report, and exploring ways for countries to work together and make the study more credible and pertinent,” H.E. Lootah concluded.
Meanwhile, H.E. Matthew Hawkins, New Zealand’s Ambassador to the UAE, said: “The ease of doing business in the UAE is one of the leading factors that have made it an important business and commercial hub for our country. The UAE’s success is our success; we are delighted to see the momentous leaps it has taken in the past decades on the Ease of Doing Business Report.”
Participants at the Doing Business Technical Deep Dive will explore the opportunities and challenges facing efforts to draft and improve business legislations and procedures, highlighting the various stages economic establishments go through from beginning their operations, to securing construction permits and electricity services, registering trademarks, applying for credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, cross-border trade, enforcing contracts, and conflict resolution.
Dubai, UAE, December 8, 2019
The World Bank Group, with the support of the United Arab Emirates Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) will host, from December 10 to December 13, 2019 in Dubai, the third Doing Business Technical Deep Dive, a Masterclass and a knowledge sharing platform on the reforms counted by the World Bank Group’s Doing Business report. The event will welcome participants from over 30 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle-East and Oceania.
The Technical Deep Dive gathers reform experts and policy makers to discuss the methodology and indicators of the Doing Business report, share best practice on identifying bottlenecks to private sector development and enacting relevant reforms, participate in targeted capacity building and networking sessions and use those interactions to update their country reform action plans.
His Excellency Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Director General of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA), said: “Holding the third Doing Business Technical Deep Dive here in the UAE is a testament to the country’s success in firmly establishing itself as a destination of choice for business and economic leaders, partners, and organizations. It reflects the great confidence our partners at the World Bank and IFC have come to place in the UAE to host meetings of this high caliber. With prominent delegations of decision-makers and accomplished economics and business experts slated to attend, the much-anticipated event marks yet another milestone on the UAE’s journey to achieve the UAE Vision 2021 and implement the Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
The 2020 Doing Business report, which was launched on October 24, 2019, shows that reform expertise is growing in the Middle-East and Africa regions. Economies in the Middle East and North Africa implemented a record 57 business-friendly reforms and hosted four of the countries that improved the most world-wide in the ease of doing business – Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait. Sub-Saharan African countries implemented a total of 73 reforms, with Nigeria and Togo making the list of the global top reforming countries while Mauritius ranked as 13th easiest place to do business in the world.
The UAE ranks 16th globally and is the highest-ranked economy in the Middle-East and North Africa region. The Technical Deep Dive will offer the opportunity to aspiring reformers from across the globe to learn from the UAE’s best practices and share their efforts aimed at narrowing the gap with top reforming economies in the world.
The Doing Business project provides objective measures of business regulations and their enforcement across 190 economies and selected cities at the subnational and regional level. Launched in 2002, it looks at domestic small and medium-size companies and measures the regulations applying to them through their life cycle.
Dubai, Wellington- 7 August 2019
In the recent official visit to the head office located in New Zealand’s capital Willington, the senior management of the New Zealand’s G2G Know-How Foundation welcomed H.E. Abdullah Nasser Lootah, Director-General of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA).
G2G Know-How is a public foundation that reports to the New Zealand government. It dedicates all its efforts in developing innovative government solutions through exchange of ideas and experiences with the most significant experts from the public and private sectors from around the world.
H.E. Lootah’s visit to New Zealand G2G Know-How came as part of his tour of New Zealand’s government, semi-government and private institutions this week. During the meetings held at its premises, the G2G Know-How teams briefed H.E Lootah on their wide range of activities and successful experiences in areas of developing innovative government projects.
FCSA’s Director-General and New Zealand’s task forces discussed FCSA’s initiatives that are channeled towards developing the UAE’s National Statistical System for improving the Competitiveness Strategy and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The G2G Know-How officials introduced the foundation’s methodology in collaboratively developing initiatives of various government entities in New Zealand. Their process includes identifying challenges, defining development goals, drawing up a master plan to develop and implement solutions, identifying partnerships with experienced foreign governments, and examining and analyzing results.
On his visit to the G2G Know-How Foundation, H.E. Lootah stated, “New Zealand is featured by the foremost global competitiveness reports and indicators as one of the most developed countries. It is an exciting opportunity for the UAE to be G2G Know-How Foundation’s first-ever international co-operation experience. Learning from this experience inspires us to further excellent the efficiency and effectiveness of UAE’s National Teams and the innovative services offered to individuals and institutions in our homeland.”
A meeting was held between H.E. Lootah and Mr. Malcolm Miller, Executive Director of the G2G Know-How Foundation and former New Zealand Ambassador to UAE. Mr. Miller availed this opportunity to appreciate the active collaboration between New Zealand and the UAE’s public institutions. He noted the similarity and convergence of government visions on various aspects of government initiatives, including establishing an innovation culture, the role of accurate and up-to-date data in supporting decisions and placing sustainability as part of the government priorities in all areas and sectors.
FCSA’s – Director General’s visit to New Zealand included visiting several semi-government and private institutions specializing in the field of data such as the Data Ventures of the New Zealand Statistics Center and the head office of Creative Company. Data Ventures is a global provider of specialized and innovative services and products of data-driven insight while Creative Company is a private company that aims to build and promote innovation and creativity culture across the government and private institutions through the development of individual and institutional skills of work teams.
H.E. Lootah concluded his statement by saying: “Our visit to the capital of New Zealand was very successful. I am happy with the results of the meetings held with all the institutions. It has been agreed to intensify bilateral efforts by organizing more activities, exchanging experiences and launching projects and initiatives in various specialties and fields of common interest, particularly in fields of developing Statistical Activities, Management of Competitive Strategy and Governance of initiatives dedicated to achieving SDGs.”
During FCSA Participation in the Biggest Global Conference for Geospatial Systems Users held in San Diego
Dubai, 30th July 2019
The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) has concluded participation at the Esri User Conference-2019, the largest international gathering of experts and users of geospatial information systems (GIS) and solutions and digital geospatial platforms, held at the San Diego Convention Centre in San Diego, California.
During the days of the conference, UAE was so keen to shed a spotlight on its latest efforts and achievements it realized in the practices and applications of modern technology in general, and GIS technologies in particular in support of its journey to achieve the agenda of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030.
H.E. Mohamed Hassan, Executive Director of Statistics Sector at FCSA, headed the FCSA official delegation. He delivered a specialized presentation as part of the main agenda of the conference organized by Esri, the world leader in GIS technologies. The session was attended by an international audience of specialists, experts and users of GIS from around the world.
During the session, H.E. Mohamed Hassan put on display the UAE page available on the UN Sustainability Information Platform, which has more than 26 specialized contents. These contents include summaries of significant sustainability initiatives, in addition to data and studies, most importantly, the part on documenting and showcasing UAE’s sustainability initiatives.
Commenting on the documentation processes, H.E. Hassan stated: “UAE singled itself out by being the first in the world to add such a documentary part to its initiatives. This part turned out to be a knowledge center accessible to the public and features the achievements and successes of UAE institutions and how they were successful in addressing several subjects and issues related to sustainability.”
He also pointed out: “UAE is among the very first States to take the positive initiative to link sustainable development initiatives to the Global Esri Geospatial Platform. The information on several key sustainability initiatives could be displayed and updated in real-time on this platform. For example, presenting information on external assistance provided by UAE to many countries around the world to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life via the UN Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform which is based on Esri technology. Indeed, it has become the most important international platform showcasing the achievements of the world’s nations in the field of SDGs 2030.”
“UAE’s presence in these global platforms confirms the commitment of all federal and local government institutions, the private sector, and the society as a whole to harness the latest technologies and innovations to boost the achievements of UAE in the field of SDGs, and not only at the level of the State but regionally and globally,” Hassan commented on the UAE’s participation in this global conference.
He went on to say: “These platforms adopt cutting-edge technologies of artificial intelligence, machine learning and linking satellite images with numbers and ground-based data. All of these factors serve our best interests to deliver high accuracy results, as well as saving time, efforts, and money.”
Noteworthy, members of the UAE delegation took part in various sessions and bilateral meetings that tackled the most recent developments in the fields of statistics, data, and geospatial systems. They were also briefed about specific leading international experiences, such as the feature of the Automatic Data Update developed by the USA Census Bureau and has already been adopted to implement its ongoing Census Project 2020.
H.E. Mohamed Hassan concluded his statement by saying: “Such global participations of the FCSA teams support the UAE’s efforts exerted to keep pace with the 17 SDGs. This is achieved by providing perfect data tools that facilitate planning, monitoring, following up the progress in realizing SDGs and reporting the progress achieved to the UN Statistics Division. Definitely, cooperation between FCSA, The UAE National Committee on SDGs and Esri in the field of e-linkage of the FCSA systems with the UN platform will boost its capacities and promote its planning capabilities in the future with sights set to further support the sustainability dossier at the national and global levels, as well as the achievement of the agenda of SDGs 2030.”
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