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Abu Dhabi / WAM
Thirty seven projects covered by industrial licences entered into production in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi last year, 85 percent higher than in the previous year, it has been announced. The total investment value of the new licences was estimated at AED6.4 billion distributed among 29 factories in Abu Dhabi, six in Al Ain and two in the Al Dhafra area.
The figures were announced in the annual report on the Industrial Activity Movement in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, released by the Industrial Development Bureau of the Department of Economic Development (DED). By the end of 2017, a total of 1,647 industrial licences were operational in the emirate, including over 1157 licences in Abu Dhabi, 398 licences in Al Ain, 47 licences in Al Dhafra, and 45 licences for industry pioneers.
The report said that licence activities included over 160 for chemical industries, 428 for metal industries, 393 building materials licences, 210 for fibreglass, plastic and sponge, 176 for wood, cardboard and paper industries, 125 for food industries, 86 equipment and devices licences, 43 licenses for clothing and leather industries, and 26 Recycling Industries licences.
Khalifa bin Salem Al Mansouri, the Under-Secretary of the DED, noted that the Government of Abu Dhabi was keen to enhance the role of the industrial sector as one of the main engines of the Abu Dhabi economy by targeting particular industrial areas, some of which depend on major existing industries in Abu Dhabi, in line with the strategic plan objectives adopted by the Industrial Development Bureau, in order to achieve the objectives of the axis of economic development set by Abu Dhabi plan.
He said that the Bureau is seeking to achieve its strategic objectives during the next phase through effective supervision and coordination of its implementation plan, with the involvement of stakeholders from the public and private sectors, to improve the competitiveness of the Emirate in the industrial sector.
The report included a number of indicators, the most important showing that 86 new licences were issued in 2017, up from 22 in 2016. 37 licences moved to the production stage, compared to around 20 in 2016.
According to Al Mansouri, the Industrial Development Bureau is working to align its strategic objectives with those of the Abu Dhabi Government in the coming years by focussing on providing an investment environment that supports the industrial sector and which meets the needs of foreign and local investors, such as industrial funding, intellectual property protection and Foreign Ownership laws and others.