Key economic changes and their implications as well as the best ways to support and enhance the UAE’s economic growth and competitiveness will be in limelight at the 4th Emirates Economic Planning Forum opening tomorrow (November 1) in Ajman, UAE.

Organised by the Department of Economic Development (DED) – Ajman, the two-day forum takes place under the theme ‘Overseeing the future in light of new economic changes’ at the Emirates Hospitality Center (EHC) in Ajman.


According to the Global Competitiveness Report for 2017, the UAE ranked first in the Arab world and 10thglobally among the most competitive countries in the world thanks to its solid economic growth that is at par with world’s knowledge- and innovation-driven economies.

Ali Issa Al Nuaimi, director general, DED-Ajman, said: “We are confident that the 4thEmirates Economic Planning Forum will produce the much-needed insights to boost the ongoing efforts promoting government integration and unifying relevant initiatives of the Ministry of Economy and local economic development departments.

“Through our coordination and continuous dialogues, we will achieve our goal to build a diversified, sustainable, and globally competitive economy. The forum will be an important platform for all stakeholders to explore new economic planning opportunities at the local and federal levels, while highlighting Ajman's economic rise based on innovation in line with Ajman Vision 2021 and UAE Vision 2021.”

Ahmed Mahmoud Al Hammadi, assistant director General of Corporate Support Affairs, said: “It is an honour to be organizing the forum’s latest edition in Ajman, which is an extension to the previous editions held in Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Umm al-Quwain.”

“The event reflects the aspirations of the Ministry of Economy and the UAE’s economic development departments to continue our path towards excellence in terms of economic planning; and promote partnership, sound economic integration, and planning with a view of leveraging the UAE’s competitive advantages to build a competitive, and knowledge- and innovation-driven economy as envisioned by our wise leaders.

 “We highly appreciate the efforts made by our strategic partners in organizing the current edition and their untiring endeavours to provide all support required to ensure the forum’s success. We are confident that this edition will reinforce the cooperation among the Ministry of Economy, government bodies, and stakeholders in our bid to develop clear-cut and integrated frameworks and improve economic planning mechanisms. Our cooperation will ensure that we keep up with the latest regional and global developments according to the UAE’s economic and sustainable development goals,” he added.

The forum is supported by Ajman Free Zone, Ajman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and a number of sponsors from the national companies, including Mohamed Hilal Group, Darmix Concrete Mixers Ajman, and Gas House Technology as platinum sponsors; and Al Salem Industries as gold sponsor. Highlighting the role of human capital in driving economic growth, Ajman DED will also host the company of Emirati inventor, Eida Al Muhairbi.

Sultan Abdullah bin Hadda Al Suwaidi, chairman of Sharjah Economic Development Department, added: “The forum continues to gain importance each year as an effective platform that brings together the different federal and local government bodies concerned with promoting the levels of planning and growth strategies to new levels of excellence. It also strengthens the partnership with the private sector through exhibitions and panel discussions that would consolidate its role in driving the economic development in the UAE.”

The forum will significantly contribute to promoting cooperation among the different stakeholders responsible for implementing the economic plans in various government departments and authorities. It will ensure alignment between the plans, programs, and policies of these stakeholders and raise awareness to the private sector and civil society.

Bin Hadda also said that the present edition is an opportunity to review the outcomes of the previous three editions that were organized by Emirate of Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm al-Quwain. This year’s forum is an extension to the previous editions which helps maintain communication among all the economic departments aimed at discussing the outcomes of the strategic economic plans about the industrial sector of each emirate, aimed at combining the objectives and efforts among all the stakeholders.

He added that the forum will help improve the UAE’s business environment by developing the legislative and regulatory framework; streamlining the procedures via an open and elaborate discussions among the participating economic leaders; continuously enhancing the nation’s economy, promoting corporate governance policy; in addition to building partnerships between the educational institutions and the business sector for training the national workforce to meet the labour market needs as one of the UAE’s economic goals. – TradeArabia News Service