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17 countries to participate in Sharjah’s 13th SITCF

SHARJAH, 10th January, 2023 (WAM) – Over 17 Arab and international countries will participate in the 13th session of the Sharjah International Traditional Crafts Forum (SITCF), which will be held at the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park on January 18 and 19 under the slogan "Carpet and Textile".

It was announced during a press conference held at the Sharjah Central Souq, chaired by Dr Abdul Aziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, Kholoud Al Hajri, Director of Emirati Handcraft Centre affiliated to SIH, General Coordinator of the Sharjah International Traditional Crafts Forum, and attended by the departmental directors, employees and those interested in heritage in the textile and carpet industries.

The conference began with a visual presentation highlighting the significant achievements and topics from the previous sessions of the Sharjah International Traditional Crafts Forum. It reflected on the history of the forum, which began in 2007, and its journey celebrating traditional crafts and introducing their history through various topics and titles over the past 12 sessions.

Dr Al Musallam said, "The traditional arts and crafts industries and their diversity have played a vital role in the development of the economic life of nations throughout history. Since ancient times, craftspeople have relied on manual skills and simple tools developed over time, using raw materials nature offered, such as plants, animals, and other sources, to produce rich artefacts and products that served the community. This facilitated ways to create a living and contribute to the continuation of the cultural flow between people through time and space.”

SIH was aware of the cultural and social significance and so devoted an annual forum under the directives of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, who prioritised the preservation, revival, and protection of heritage crafts for cultural and social development.

Dr Al Musallam, confirmed that the forum had developed its structure, objectives and forward-looking vision since its inception. Its slogan for each session reflected those fundamental updates, touched on the depth of the traditional craft in the UAE, and expressed its authenticity, importance, and presence in the population's daily life. Its new slogan, "Sharjah International Traditional Crafts Forum", reflects the heritage tradition in the UAE and the world elevates its ancient values and symbols, and celebrates its pioneers and flags through each session.

Al Hajri announced the "Textile and Carpet" slogan, emphasising that the vision of the forum is based upon celebrating these crafts and their manufacture on an international level.

The speech of the general coordinator of the forum included details of the diverse and distinguished activities, including a rich educational programme to discuss various issues related to textiles, carpets, and their products, with a historical presentation of the industry, an accompanying global exhibition, and workshops by the University of Sharjah – College of Fine Arts and Design and Sajaya young ladies of Sharjah.

Kholoud Al Hajri, indicated that 17 countries who will participate in the forum, includes all GCC member states, and four Arab countries, namely the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Kingdom of Jordan, the Hashemite Kingdom of Morocco and Sudan.

Internationally, Azerbaijan, Italy, Spain, Romania and North Macedonia will participate. In addition, there will be a pavilion for Turkish carpets and another for Iranian carpets, with live performances and workshops for each country's carpet and textile industry, reflecting the character and showcasing the traditional costumes of participating countries.
The art exhibition will showcase the Saudi artist Abdullah Al-Faisal Al-Rasheed.

It will also feature Mexican textile and dye artist Porfirio Gutierrez, who has extensive experience in using woolen threads and dealing with natural materials and dyes, through which he succeeded in extracting 200 different colours over 15 years.

The Sharjah International Traditional Crafts Forum will not be devoid of exciting activities for children, as the child’s corner will include a pavilion for the International School of Story affiliated with the Institute.

There will be several educational and scientific workshops in knitting and weaving symbols using gypsum, a workshop on macrame art, and participation from the Emirates Heritage Club.

Children can also participate in a photography competition entitled ‘The Most Beautiful Story About Carpets’.

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Emirates

World Free Zones Organization Launches its New Corporate Identity

The World Free Zones Organization (World FZO) has launched its new corporate identity, which coincided
with its 10th anniversary. The launch came during the 10 th World Free Zones Organization (World FZO) World Congress in Dubai held under the theme ‘Zones and the Shifting Global Economic Structures – Unlocking New Investment Avenues’, In conjunction with the launch of its new corporate identity, the World FZO announced its new vision, mission, and purpose. Its new vision focuses on driving global economic progress, sustainability, and inclusive growth through empowered free zones, setting the benchmark for economic advancement. As part of its new mission, the World FZO aims to engage with free zones from around the world by supporting them through knowledge
sharing, networking, advocacy, and consulting, enhancing their positive impact and contributions to economic and social development in their respective countries.
The World FZO reaffirmed its commitment to its core values while enhancing its approach by adopting the
latest practices and keeping pace with rapid global changes. This forward-thinking approach enables the
organisation to reshape prevailing perceptions and highlight its distinctive and innovative methods.
With its new identity, the World FZO also emphasise its dedication to launching purposeful and transparent initiatives that solidify its role as a catalyst for positive change on the global stage.
The organisation’s new corporate identity represents its three strategic pillars: Impact, Influence, and Trust. Its focus on Impact will drive sustainable growth and effectiveness, ensuring that free zones remain at the forefront of socio-economic development and innovation. Under its second pillar, Influence, it seeks to shape the future of global trade and investment by advocating for policies that foster growth and opportunity for businesses and communities. Furthermore, by building Trust, the organizations will reinforce its role as a steadfast ally, providing the advocacy needed to navigate an increasingly complex and evolving global landscape. The organisation’s key objectives for its new phase include opening new investment horizons and reinforcing social contributions by supporting net-zero initiatives.
The World FZO remains focused on fostering trade relations and partnerships between economic zones in its member countries, while broadening its activities to encompass emerging economic sectors. These sectors align with the demands of the era, including artificial intelligence, digital trade, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and advanced technologies.

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Emirates

Dubai Customs Launches Innovative Training Program to Enhance Emiratisation Efforts

– Specialized Vocational Program Under "Masar 33" Aims to Train and Employ 80
Citizens
– Sultan Bin Sulayem: Our Plans Align with National Vision and Goals
– Abdulla Mohammed Busenad: A Strong Commitment to Supporting
Nationalization Efforts in the UA

Dubai Customs is launching a significant initiative to train and employ 80 new high school graduates as “Customs Inspectors.”in line with the vision of the Dubai government and contributing to the goals of the Dubai Economic and Social Agenda, along with the leadership’s commitment to invest in citizens and increase Emiratisation rates.
This initiative is part of the department’s commitment to enhance the participation of citizens
in the economic development process and to support the UAE Centennial 2071 Plan goals
by investing in the youth and equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary to
keep pace with global changes. The department has allocated a vocational program in
customs inspection for candidates selected from Ru’ya Careers UAE 2024, providing them
with professional training for seven months both domestically and internationally before they
take up available positions. This initiative is part of the pioneering “Masar 33” program
designed to meet Dubai’s agenda goals by mobilizing all resources and development plans
to ensure the highest quality of life for citizens in the emirate. “Masar 33″aims to enhance
the competitiveness of Emirati talent through various initiatives, professional programs, and
scholarships, establishing Dubai Customs as a cornerstone for advancing the national
human development system, boosting its efficiency and productivity, and increasing its
participation in economic sectors to meet Dubai’s leading aspirations for the future.

Program Objectives:
The vocational program aims to nurture and train new high school graduates by enhancing
their professional skills in line with the Dubai government’s vision. It seeks to integrate
citizens into the labor market from early stages, ensuring their future success and
competitiveness. Additionally, it focuses on building the capabilities of customs inspectors on
scientific and advanced training foundations to address security risks and protect the
community and economy from customs evasion and smuggling, achieving a 100%
nationalization rate in customs inspection at Dubai Customs.

Active Participation:

H.E. Sultan bin Sulayem, DP World Group Chairman & CEO and Chairman of Ports,
Customs and Free Zone Corporation, stated that the organization is committed through its
various initiatives and programs aimed at training and qualifying citizens to actively
contribute to the success of the UAE’s national vision, which is fundamentally based on the
Emirati workforce. He praised Dubai Customs for diversifying its projects in line with the
Dubai government’s plan and its social and economic agenda, enhancing the
competitiveness of citizens in the labor market for both the public and private sectors under
an ambitious strategy to encourage and promote nationalization policies.

Attracting Citizens:
H.E. Dr. Abdulla Mohammed Busenad, Director General of Dubai Customs, emphasized that
the department provides a range of specialized programs at the highest levels to attract
young citizens and involve them in the development process. Through “Masar 33” which
aligns with the objectives of the Dubai agenda and the leadership’s vision for enhancing
nationalization in both the public and private sectors, the programs enable citizens to gain
knowledge, field experience, and technical skills necessary for joining the labor market
through the approved career path. He noted that the initiative to train recent high school
graduates in customs professions builds upon Dubai Customs’ previous achievements in
qualifying citizens and the positive results attained through a series of diverse programs
covering the most in-demand job sectors. The department remains committed to enhancing
the efficiency of citizens and providing them with the professional opportunities they seek,
reinforcing its commitment to supporting nationalization efforts in the UAE.

Four Pillars:
Mohammed Al Ghaffari, Executive Director, Human Resources Division at Dubai Customs,
announced the opening of applications for the customs inspector training program during the
Ru’ya Careers UAE 2024 and provided the link to the official Dubai Government Jobs
website. The program is designed around four main pillars: digital skills programs, behavioral
programs, customs science programs, and security programs, alongside practical training in
the department’s customs centers and external training in collaboration with strategic
partners, which includes a comprehensive professional guidance program. He stated, “The
programs provided by Dubai Customs are increasingly popular among young citizens,
confirming the success of the department’ efforts in attracting national talent to shape future
leaders in customs work through various academic and specialized professional paths. This
offers new graduates the opportunity to qualify for roles in Dubai Customs, with 80 vacancies
allocated for graduates of the customs inspector training program.”

 

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Emirates

DCO Secretary-General commends Global Digital Compact at Summit of the Future

Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the
Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), said that “the digital divide the world faces today is
multifaceted, encompassing gaps in digital intelligence, computing capabilities, gender, and
skills,” in a speech at the Summit of the Future held during UNGA79 in New York.
In her speech, delivered after the UN General Assembly adopted the & Pact for the Future’ and the
‘Global Digital Compact’, AlYahya warned that “The AI and computing divide represents a
significant barrier, as some nations advance rapidly in AI innovation and deployment, while
others struggle to keep pace.
At the same time, the gender digital divide continues to limit women’s access to technology and
opportunities, and the skills divide leaves many without the digital competencies essential for
success in a fast-evolving economy. If we do not address these interconnected challenges, we
risk leaving entire communities behind.”
AlYahya praised the Global Digital Compact for “lays out an ambitious roadmap for an
inclusive, open, sustainable, fair, safe and secure digital future for all,” emphasizing that “It is a
bold vision, but the real challenge is translating these goals, principles, objectives, and
commitments into action, especially as we strive to achieve the SDGs.”
AlYahya highlighted that “at the Summit of the Future, the DCO proudly launched the Digital
Economy Navigator (DEN), an innovative tool that provides detailed insights on digital economy
performance across 50 countries. This initiative is just one of the many ways we are turning the
principles of the Global Digital Compact into action.”
She explained that “while DEN is a vital resource, it is only the beginning. In the spirit of
networked multilateralism, we must foster collective efforts to the GDC’s ambitious goals,
objectives, and commitments. I call upon every country, organization, and individual to join
forces in this critical endeavor.”
The Digital Economy Navigator (DEN) evaluates digital economy performance through three
intersecting dimensions: Digital Enablers, Digital Business, and Digital Society. Within these
dimensions, 10 pillars synthesize and summarize key aspects of countries’ digital economy, and
use of digital technology application from 102 indicators gathered from respected secondary data
sources, in addition to proprietary survey data of more than 27,000 participants across the 50
countries.
In addition to the launch of the DEN, on the sidelines of UNGA, DCO signed an agreement with
the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to enhance digital cooperation and accelerate
digital transformation across the world, to support efforts aimed at achieving the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
It also signed a memorandum of understanding with the League of Arab States (LAS) to
accelerate the inclusive and sustainable digital economy, enhance relations and exchange experiences and knowledge, and accelerate the process of digital transformation and economic development.

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