News from WAM (here) and Gulf News (here) of the signing of an agreement between the UAE and Jordan in November 2015. The report on WAM reads:
"The UAE Ministry of Economy and the Jordanian Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supplies, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, envisaging a wide-ranging cooperation between the two countries in the fields of innovation and research, and developing Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs.
The three-year agreement, which consists of 13 clauses aims to build a long-term strategic alliance between the two sides.
The MoU was signed in Amman by Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy, and Maha Ali, Jordanian Minister of Industry, Trade and Supplies, during the UAE-Jordan Economic Forum and in the presence of Dr Abdullah Al Nasour, Prime Minister of Jordan.
The MoU reflects the desire of both countries to set up a reciprocally beneficial network of business cooperation for young entrepreneurs running SMEs.
Both countries are also cooperating in the exchange of knowledge and expertise among relevant government departments, including the Jordan Investment Authority and Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation, JEDCO, and equivalent UAE bodies such as the SMEs Council, SME Fund, and the Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
The agreement will look into preparing a work plan to identify further areas of cooperation as well as to encourage government entities, business development centres, and private sector organisations to set up joint projects among SMEs focusing on technological innovation. It will also facilitate access to sources of funding, help SMEs explore viable market opportunities, and enable exchange of information on intellectual property rights pertaining to SMEs in both the UAE and Jordan.
In addition, the agreement will explore the possibility of cooperation for purposes of building networks of communication and brokerage business between important stakeholders involved in innovation initiatives such as companies, academic and research institutions, and business development firms, particularly those involved in the SME sector. The agreement will enable mutual coordination among various government departments to remove the commercial hurdles facing SMEs.
The MoU also envisages closer interaction among government, academic and private sector organisations in both countries on a regular basis, and another key aspect is the inclusion of social responsibility as an integral part of all partnerships developed as a result of this agreement.
Sultan Al Mansouri said that the MoU is consistent with the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and in line with the UAE Cabinet's announcement of 2015 as the UAE Year of Innovation.
He said, "This MoU is part of our efforts to actualise the National Strategy for Innovation that Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, launched last year. The Vice President has stressed the need to deepen cultural innovation nation-wide. This vision reflects the Ministry's own strategy to expedite the process of transition to a knowledge economy based on creativity and innovation in tune with the UAE Vision 2021 that seeks to enhance the country's global competitiveness and economic sustainability." The UAE Minister of Economy pointed out that the importance of the MoU is highlighted with the fact that it focuses on three areas of paramount importance for the country, and they are: Innovation, SMEs and research and development.
He said, "These are areas that form the strategic pivot of the wise leadership?s determination to make the UAE a leader in many fields. Innovation is not a choice, but an imperative for any country trying to consolidate its position in the global economy. The UAE realised this early on and included innovation among its goals as far back as in its Vision 2012." Al Mansouri added, "Last year, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the National Strategy for Innovation. The strategy included 30 initiatives to be implemented in three years. Covering seven sectors - energy, transportation, health, education, technology, water and space. The strategy proposed the setting up of the National Innovation Committee to convene a number of federal entities to work together on the execution of the National Innovation Strategy and to involve the private sector in the drive." Many public sector and private sector organisations have already commenced the establishment of innovation and development centres to organise economic and academic activities focused on innovation.
Al Mansouri went on to point out that SMEs played an important and contributory role in the national economy. "They were integral to the UAE's efforts to achieve sustainable development, and helped enhance the country's global competitiveness, while also supporting its transition to a knowledge economy based on creativity and innovation," he said.
The promotion of SMEs and encouragement of young entrepreneurs is also part of the UAE?s efforts to diversify its economy. SMEs currently constitute 94% of companies operating in the UAE, and contribute around 60% of the country's GDP. The UAE Government is looking to take this figure to 70% by 2021. In this context, strengthening cooperation with other countries with respect to SMEs is crucial to the UAE's economic sustainability objectives.
Also commenting on the agreement, the Jordanian Minister Maha Ali, said, "This MoU is an important bilateral partnership. It will add a new and collaborative dimension to the relations between our countries," confirming that innovation, SMEs and research and development is one of the important sectors of strategic development for both the UAE and Jordan."
"The UAE Ministry of Economy and the Jordanian Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supplies, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, envisaging a wide-ranging cooperation between the two countries in the fields of innovation and research, and developing Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs.
The three-year agreement, which consists of 13 clauses aims to build a long-term strategic alliance between the two sides.
The MoU was signed in Amman by Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy, and Maha Ali, Jordanian Minister of Industry, Trade and Supplies, during the UAE-Jordan Economic Forum and in the presence of Dr Abdullah Al Nasour, Prime Minister of Jordan.
The MoU reflects the desire of both countries to set up a reciprocally beneficial network of business cooperation for young entrepreneurs running SMEs.
Both countries are also cooperating in the exchange of knowledge and expertise among relevant government departments, including the Jordan Investment Authority and Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation, JEDCO, and equivalent UAE bodies such as the SMEs Council, SME Fund, and the Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
The agreement will look into preparing a work plan to identify further areas of cooperation as well as to encourage government entities, business development centres, and private sector organisations to set up joint projects among SMEs focusing on technological innovation. It will also facilitate access to sources of funding, help SMEs explore viable market opportunities, and enable exchange of information on intellectual property rights pertaining to SMEs in both the UAE and Jordan.
In addition, the agreement will explore the possibility of cooperation for purposes of building networks of communication and brokerage business between important stakeholders involved in innovation initiatives such as companies, academic and research institutions, and business development firms, particularly those involved in the SME sector. The agreement will enable mutual coordination among various government departments to remove the commercial hurdles facing SMEs.
The MoU also envisages closer interaction among government, academic and private sector organisations in both countries on a regular basis, and another key aspect is the inclusion of social responsibility as an integral part of all partnerships developed as a result of this agreement.
Sultan Al Mansouri said that the MoU is consistent with the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and in line with the UAE Cabinet's announcement of 2015 as the UAE Year of Innovation.
He said, "This MoU is part of our efforts to actualise the National Strategy for Innovation that Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, launched last year. The Vice President has stressed the need to deepen cultural innovation nation-wide. This vision reflects the Ministry's own strategy to expedite the process of transition to a knowledge economy based on creativity and innovation in tune with the UAE Vision 2021 that seeks to enhance the country's global competitiveness and economic sustainability." The UAE Minister of Economy pointed out that the importance of the MoU is highlighted with the fact that it focuses on three areas of paramount importance for the country, and they are: Innovation, SMEs and research and development.
He said, "These are areas that form the strategic pivot of the wise leadership?s determination to make the UAE a leader in many fields. Innovation is not a choice, but an imperative for any country trying to consolidate its position in the global economy. The UAE realised this early on and included innovation among its goals as far back as in its Vision 2012." Al Mansouri added, "Last year, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the National Strategy for Innovation. The strategy included 30 initiatives to be implemented in three years. Covering seven sectors - energy, transportation, health, education, technology, water and space. The strategy proposed the setting up of the National Innovation Committee to convene a number of federal entities to work together on the execution of the National Innovation Strategy and to involve the private sector in the drive." Many public sector and private sector organisations have already commenced the establishment of innovation and development centres to organise economic and academic activities focused on innovation.
Al Mansouri went on to point out that SMEs played an important and contributory role in the national economy. "They were integral to the UAE's efforts to achieve sustainable development, and helped enhance the country's global competitiveness, while also supporting its transition to a knowledge economy based on creativity and innovation," he said.
The promotion of SMEs and encouragement of young entrepreneurs is also part of the UAE?s efforts to diversify its economy. SMEs currently constitute 94% of companies operating in the UAE, and contribute around 60% of the country's GDP. The UAE Government is looking to take this figure to 70% by 2021. In this context, strengthening cooperation with other countries with respect to SMEs is crucial to the UAE's economic sustainability objectives.
Also commenting on the agreement, the Jordanian Minister Maha Ali, said, "This MoU is an important bilateral partnership. It will add a new and collaborative dimension to the relations between our countries," confirming that innovation, SMEs and research and development is one of the important sectors of strategic development for both the UAE and Jordan."
No comments:
Post a Comment