MoF hosts ‘Woman and Innovation’ forum

Abu Dhabi / WAM

In line with national celebrations of Emirati Women’s Day, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) organised a forum titled “Woman and Innovation”, at its premises in Dubai.
The forum aimed to highlight the country and the Ministry’s efforts to promote women’s empowerment across different fields. This commitment has led to the launch of a number of projects, initiatives and innovative programmes aimed at developing the legislative and regulatory frameworks in government financial work, and enhancing services for the government and private sector as well as individuals.
The forum was held in the presence of Mariam Mohammad Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for the Management of Financial Resources; Fatima Yousef Al Naqbi, Chief Executive Officer of Innovation at MoF, Medeya Salem Al Roum. Director of Policies and Accounting Standard at MoF; Abeer Abdouly, Director of Fiscal Policy Coordination; Samia Thani Al Hameli, Director of Financial Operations and a number of second level leadership at the Ministry. The forum targeted MoF’s new employees as well as students enrolled in MoF’s scholarship programme.
Mariam Mohammad Al Amiri highlighted UAE government efforts towards enhancing women’s role in the society, the effective social and economic participation of women in the development process as well as contributions in innovation, research and development in the financial sector to achieve the government’s vision.
Al Amiri said: “The Ministry of Finance adopted a number of smart systems to strengthen the regulatory framework for key sectors and develop the government financial work according to the best international practices. The Ministry’s smart initiatives include the innovative and integrated federal financial system which follows best international practices, the shift from cash basis to accrual basis system and UAE’ Funds Transfer System (UAEFTS).”
Al Amiri stressed the government’s support for women has pushed them to achieve a number of key successes over the past few years, whether on a government, entrepreneurial or volunteering level. She also highlighted that the main motivation for women to strengthen their role in society originates from their ability to build their capabilities and take advantage of continuous innovation and learning opportunities.
The forum included a session on MoF’s efforts to empower women which took participants on a journey of women’s leadership development and challenges at the Ministry. Participants also highlighted women’s success in managing the Ministry’s innovation projects, particularly the UAE unified financial report, the Emirates Gate of Government Finance Statistics (GFS)
Reports and the Classification of the Functions of Government (COFOG).
MoF launched a number of innovative initiatives to encourage the private sector to contribute in development projects and increase investment in different fields to help achieve economic and social development in the federal
government.
Speakers at the forum also highlighted innovation and development in the federal government’s projects, reviewed a number of rules, decisions and procedures adopted by the Ministry to regulate and manage government financial work with different aspects of innovation, as well as enhance sustainable economic development. The ‘Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Fund to Finance Innovation’, worth AED 2 billion and which was launched last November, is considered one of the most important government initiatives managed by MoF that facilitates funding for entrepreneurs’ innovative projects.
The forum also showcased MoF’s continuous efforts in social responsibility initiatives, and its continuous commitment to encourage young women, in line with its mission to achieve sustainable economic and social development. The Ministry, through its “Massar Program for Scholarships”, has managed to attract and sponsor a large number of Emirati students to enroll in finance and accounting majors from prestigious and accredited universities in the country, to then benefit from their expertise by offering them job opportunities at MoF.
The “Massar Program for Scholarships” aims to strengthen students’ abilities in the financial field, and encourage more Emirati student to pursue careers in accounting and finance at MoF and in the federal government, in order to fill roles with qualified Emiratis, as well as support the Emiratisation and plans for a sustainable economy.
MoF has adopted a yearly budget worth AED 2 million for “Massar Program for Scholarships”, with 50 students enrolled in the programme between 2009 and 2015.

‘UAE women well-positioned for bigger role in development’

Abu Dhabi / WAM

The women of the UAE are well positioned to assume a bigger role in the country’s sustainable development process, according to H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union (GWU), Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood.
In an interview on the Emirati Women’s Day, published in Al Ittihad newspaper, Sheikha Fatima emphasised the achievements made by the UAE women.
“Thanks to the grace of Allah the Almighty and thanks to the unlimited support of our wise leadership, the women of the UAE are moving from success to success in the fields of education, career and family care,” she said.
Sheikha Fatima paid tribute to the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan who laid the foundation for women’s empowerment. She also hailed the vision of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan in providing all means of support to the women to continue their advancement.
Sheikha Fatima referred to the numerous the initiatives launched by the GWU that helped empower women in healthcare, educational and social fields, including Know Your Rights, Be Ready and First Aid Responder initiatives.
“The UAE women are now well-positioned to assume a larger role in the sustainable development process. Their efforts, their contributions and their successes in taking the lead are evident, ” Sheikha Fatima said.
She continued by saying: “We look forward to see more achievements by the UAE women and we will be with them every step of the way, providing support and setting the ground, guided by the teachings of our tolerant Islam, by the principles of our wise leaderships and by values of our heritage.”
Sheikha Fatima also highlighted the pioneering role of the GWU in empowering and preparing UAE women to join public life through conferences and workshops and through sharing experiences with fellow Arab countries.
She cited as an example the project to enhance Arab women parliamentarians’ role, implemented between 2004-2007 in collaboration with the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM).
On why August 28 was selected to be the Emirati Women’s Day, Sheikha Fatima said: The goal was obvious; to celebrate women’s achievements in different walks of life and to recognise their endeavours and ambitions to be part of useful activities for their country. We have always sought to offer the opportunity to women to participate in the development process and when they proved their capabilities, we decided to celebrate their perseverance, determination and diligence.”
She added that the success made by UAE women resulted in managing to get four ministerial portfolios in the cabinet, in addition to the post of the Speaker of the Federal National Council.
Sheikha Fatima also said the women are now serving in senior posts in judiciary, diplomacy, military and higher education.