Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber recently chaired a virtual meeting of the Industrial Coordination Council with Sarah bint Yousif Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Technology, and members of the Council in attendance.

The Industrial Coordination Council was established in 2016 with the aim of developing a national strategy to strengthen the industrial sector of the UAE, along with preparing key performance indicators and following up on their implementation. The Council also seeks to propose various initiatives to boost cooperation and sharing the most effective and efficient practices among government entities as well as the private sector. The Council proposes to work in collaboration with various federal and local government entities along with the Industrialist Union Society to improve and update the legislation for the betterment of the sector.

During the meeting, the participants discussed various ways to empower the industrial sector and boost the competitive position of the UAE in the global market. They also reviewed efforts taken by the authorities to increase the UAE's global ranking in different indices.

Furthermore, there was a briefing on how the Ministry, in collaboration with relevant authorities and stakeholders, can attract more investments to steer the Fourth Industrial Revolution in the UAE. It will also help in advancing the nationwide development of an advanced industrial sector.

Besides the Council, the Ministry is also working on a strong framework for legislative measures, policies and initiatives to stimulate sustainable growth and improve in-country value.

Addressing the meeting, Dr. Al Jaber underlined that the Ministry has been working proactively to put all significant enablers in place to achieve the leadership's vision and to lay the foundations of modern infrastructure for creating an advanced industry and future economy. He went onto shed light on the Ministry's commitment to encouraging entrepreneurship and developing an ecosystem that supports SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) noting their significance in the country's economic growth.

Dr. Al Jaber said that utilising technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution will be core to achieving our objectives for the UAE’s industrial sector.

"While we have already taken great strides in creating an advanced industrial infrastructure, by leveraging technology we will be able to further develop the sector, create greater opportunities for economic diversification and contribute to the achievement of a knowledge economy," he added.

In addition, Sarah Al Amiri stressed the importance of optimal use of technology, cooperation between various sectors and the establishment of specialised working groups to achieve the desired goals., particularly amid the Coronavirus pandemic.

"The current pandemic has pushed key industries to adopt the latest technologies in order to continue operating efficiently, which is increasing our economy’s readiness to adopt pivotal Industry 4.0 technologies. Deploying key technologies in existing industries will provide the UAE’s economy with a competitive edge," Sarah Al Amiri said.

During the meeting, ICC members also reviewed various ways to enhance the UAE's position in the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation global ranking of industrial competitiveness by simplifying and modernising government processes and boosting local content. They also talked about the lessons learned from the industrial strategies implemented by other countries and agreed on the need for continuous communication with the private sector and the importance of supporting the diversification of industrial SMEs. 

WAM