Emirates

Committee for National In-Country Value Programme holds inaugural meeting

ABU DHABI, 8th December, 2021 (WAM) — The National Committee for the National In-Country Value (ICV) Programme, formed by the UAE Cabinet, held its inaugural meeting to discuss the development of detailed guidelines and criteria for its implementation at the federal level, as well as the response for applications from large national companies.

The committee, which includes the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), a number of federal and local authorities and national companies, reviewed the programme’s developments and key performance indicators since its launch as part of the "Projects of the 50" in September.

Chaired by Omar Suwaina Al Suwaidi, Under-Secretary of MoIAT, the National Committee also appointed a technical committee to oversee its most important tasks and evaluate the impact on the industrial sector and the national economy of those companies recently joining the programme. It also discussed proposing new incentives, benefits and opportunities to encourage more companies to seek ICV certification, proposing awareness-raising workshops in cooperation with its members, and also looked into ways to stimulate the adoption of advanced technology through the programme.

"Launching the National ICV programme among the ‘Projects of the 50’ falls in line with the strategic goals of the National Strategy for Industry and Advanced Technology. These goals encompass empowering and incentivizing the UAE’s industrial sector, improving its performance and strengthening partnerships and collaboration within the private sector. Under the programme, 42 percent of government spending will be redirected to UAE-based companies by 2025," said Al Suwaidi.

"The ICV programme is expected to reach numerous milestones in that time, including increasing the internal demand for local products and services from AED33 billion currently to AED55 billion, while encouraging local manufacturers to diversify and develop their production to meet that demand. Developing their business models and production methods will also help them meet ICV certification criteria, thus enhancing their chances of partnering with global entities seeking to leverage this opportunity."

The meeting was attended by Younis Al Khoury, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Abdullah Ahmed Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy, Nasser Abdullah bin Kharbash, Under-Secretary for Emiratisation at the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, and Saed Al Awadi, CEO of Dubai Industries and Exports.

Other attendees included Dr. Abdulrahman Al Shayeb Al Naqbi, Director-General of the Department of Economic Development – Ras Al Khaimah, Sheikha Abdullah Al Shamsi, Deputy Manager of the Department of Economic Development – Umm Al Quwain, Dr. Saleh Al Hashemi, Head of the Department of Commercial Affairs and In-Country Value at ADNOC, and Khaled Mubarak Bani Zama, Director of Industrial Development Department in the Department of Economic Development – Abu Dhabi.

Emirates

UK publishes roadmap for reaching tech superpower status by 2030

LONDON, 22nd March, 2023 (WAM) — The UK has today published a roadmap for reaching tech superpower status by 2030 through a new International Technology Strategy.

The Foreign Secretary and the Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary set out at the launch in London how the UK will build on the strength of its tech sector, which is already the largest in Europe and the third highest valued in the world after the USA and China, said a press release issued by the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

The UK, guided by four principles – to be open, responsible, secure and resilient – will shape the future of technology in a way that promotes its use positively, and drives innovation and UK tech leadership, while boosting its security from new and emerging threats.

The UK Government will work closely with Governments, academia and industry to leverage the UK’s world-leading strengths in technology through international partnerships with established and emerging science and technology powerhouse nations.

The Prime Minister has made growing the economy, creating better paid jobs and opportunity across the country, one of his five priorities. Investing in the UK's thriving tech sector will directly contribute to that. The sector was worth US$1 trillion in 2022, and the UK is home to more than 85,000 start-ups and scale-ups. More investment was generated in the UK tech sector last year than in France and Germany combined, creating and sustaining high quality jobs around the country.

The International Tech Strategy will boost growth in this sector, strengthening the country's position on the world stage while forging long-term links that will promote the UK as place for investment and collaboration in the technologies of the future.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said, “Now more than ever, it is important that the UK steps up to promote British tech excellence worldwide.”

He added that this strategy will help deliver on the UK's ambition to be a tech superpower by 2030, backing UK businesses and helping the country solve the challenges of tomorrow through innovation and international collaboration.

Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan said, “We are a top-class breeding ground for emerging tech, but being a superpower means working with our international partners to turn these nascent technologies into global industries."

Donelan added, “Our International Tech Strategy will ensure we deepen collaboration with our allies on the technologies of tomorrow, driving growth and prosperity for the UK while strengthening our national security.”

As part of the strategy, the UK will also work with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Global Forum on Technology to engage with the international community on how to better use technology.

“We will also build on the UK’s success in securing a seat on the Council of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), working together with partners to increase worldwide connectivity, and provide clear leadership in the telecoms sector,” said the press release.

Emirates

UAE distributes 200 tons of dates to quake-affected people in Türkiye

ANKARA, 22nd March, 2023 (WAM) — The UAE Joint Operations Command of the Ministry of Defence in cooperation with the "Chivalrous Knight / 2" operation began distributing 200 tons of dates to approximately 11 earthquake-affected areas in several Turkish villages and cities.

The initiative reflects the wise leadership's keenness to provide assistance to affected families and alleviate their suffering ahead of the Holy Month of Ramadan.

The dates will be distributed to eligible groups based on their humanitarian and economic conditions.

The Joint Operations Command continues to implement the recovery and rehabilitation stage, following its success in achieving the rapid response phase within the "Chivalrous Knight / 2" operation.

Emirates

Earthquake in Afghanistan kills at least 11

ISLAMABAD, 22nd March, 2023 (WAM) — At least nine people were killed and 44 injured in northwest Pakistan by a magnitude 6.5 earthquake that struck in neighbouring Afghanistan late on Tuesday, Reuters reported.

At least two people were killed in Afghanistan, a disaster agency official there said.

The quake was felt over an area more than 1,000 km wide by some 285 million people in Pakistan, India, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre said.

The epicentre was in the Hindu Kush mountains, in the sparsely populated northeastern Afghan province of Badakhshan, 40 km (25 miles) southeast of Jurm village, at a considerable depth of 187 km (116 miles), the US Geological Survey said.

In Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, on the Afghan border, nine people were killed and 44 injured, senior provincial official Abdul Basit told Reuters on Wednesday, adding that at least 19 houses were damaged.