The Gulf Time Newspaper One of the finest business newspapers in the UAE brought to you by our professional writers and editors.
ABU DHABI / WAM
His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, stressed that the strong and active presence of the UAE’s diplomacy in the regional and international arenas in terms of hosting numerous international agencies and conferences, as well as its active participation in international efforts to fight terrorism and extremism, has enabled it to acquire an outstanding international image.
He noted that the UAE strives to build a regional and international environment based on peace, stability and mutual trust. The country offers development and humanitarian aid, as well as active contributions to peacekeeping operations to protect the civilian population and take part in the rebuilding of the affected areas and elsewhere.
In an exclusive interview to Deraa Al Watan and Joint Command and Staff College magazines, Sheikh Mansour said that the recent ministerial changes were proof that the government of the future is determined to achieve ambitious goals, notably a new government structure in which the youth will play a pivotal role, vis-a-vis its role in the future. The future government aims to bring about a qualitative development in the methods and tools of governance, and upgrading of vital service sectors such as education and health, among others, as well as investment in human resources to ensure the prosperity and happiness of its citizens.
It also reflects the vision of the wise leadership and its aspirations to ensure more development and prosperity in various fields, and consolidate the leading position of the UAE at
regional and global levels.
Excerpts from the interview:
The UAE is working to build balanced political, economic and social relations with many countries. Openness with the rest of the world and building bridges of friendship, co-operation and understanding are the basic pillars of the state’s foreign policy. How do you assess this policy in light of its aspirations?
Experience has demonstrated the soundness of the approach of our foreign policy since the founding of the state by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Even today, this policy, which is characterised with an active and strong presence in the regional and international arenas, is guided by the shrewd vision of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
A strong and active presence of our diplomacy on the regional and international arena, and hosting of many international agencies and conferences, active participation in international efforts to fight terrorism and extremism, and striving to build a regional and international environment for peace, stability and mutual trust, has enabled the UAE to acquire an outstanding image internationally.
We look forward to opening up to the world’s future, and enhancing the country’s position as a regional leader in specialised fields, such as human rights, energy and climate change, international security and co-operation, and to ensure care for its citizens abroad.
The National Service Project seeks to serve the country, protect its gains, establish the values of loyalty among young Emiratis, and strengthen their personal leadership development skills. How do you view national service and its importance?
Our state has great and important achievements to its credit in the construction and development process at the human resources and physical levels. The sustainability of these achievements require protection. And this protection will be provided by young Emiratis equipped with values of belonging and loyalty. The readiness to sacrifice for our society and achievements are the safety valves to tackle external challenges.
The UAE has taken important steps towards addressing the issue of demographics. How do you assess deferred and immediate solutions to this issue?
Given safe and stable environment in the UAE, and provision of employment opportunities in all sectors, and the ease of movement of capital and free trade, and because of the burgeoning urban growth, the UAE has been turned into an attractive environment for the qualified, experienced aspirants and owners of capital. Everyone works under an umbrella of respect and justice, free from discrimination.
Many private and semi-private companies have begun to accommodate citizens in promising jobs.
The UAE is working on providing the best educational components, as human resources are the real capital and the most important element in the cultural development process. How do you evaluate the education in the state?
The education and innovation is the core of the government action within our national agenda. The UAE has achieved a quantum leap in the performance of public education and higher education, leading to the integration and compatibility optimisation in educational outcomes, and commensurate with the needs of the UAE society and the labour market.
Our educational institutions provided tens of thousands of qualified graduates to the labour market. Our universities today enjoy the international academic accreditation and are compared to the highest level institutions. Despite these accomplishments, we look forward to more achievements. The development process in the education sector is an ongoing process that does not stop.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the National Strategy for Innovation. In your opinion, how could innovation culture be stimulated and enriched in our national institutions, especially in the field of education, research and development?
The National Strategy for Innovation aims to stimulate innovation in renewable energy, transport, health, education and technology, water and space areas. Most of these areas are related to public services and infrastructure, which means the development of these sectors aims to improve life in a manner that preserves the natural resources of the state, and establishes a future life where the focus will be on renewable energy and advanced education to meet the requirements of development to move the economy towards becoming a knowledge economy.
The promotion of these sectors will be through innovation and development as per scientific approaches, studies and research that feed the philosophy of innovation. This is currently happening in the renewable energy, space research and education sectors. We need more creative ideas and innovative projects to achieve development. These will be attained through scientific research in the field of qualitative education that could be reflected in the strength of the economy and the standard of living and quality.
How do you evaluate the development achievements? And what are future expectations in light of the political and economic empowerment phase launched by the UAE President and the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces?
Our state has scored the qualitative development in a short period of time, including all walks of life. The UAE tops Arab world in availability of services and ranked among the top at the global level. We will continue the developmental projects through ambitious initiatives and projects that put the visions of the UAE President into practice in the areas of political and economic empowerment.
The UAE is moving in this field with insight and from one stage to another based on results and field data. The Shura values, participation and openness are not alien practices to our people or imported from abroad. They are Emirati authentic legacies and enshrined in our historical and political experience. The doors remain open between the leadership and the people in this unified federal state. This was expressed by my brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, when he said, “The house is unified politically, economically and socially, and in all areas.”
The diversification of sources of income is a guarantee for balanced sustainable development. How far is the economic diversification policy successful at a time when the world is witnessing a decline in global oil prices?
The UAE government has been working for years on the projects that diversify sources of income based on a premise that the oil wealth will not last forever, and therefore, when we raise our sustainability logo, it means diversity. And when we launch renewable energy projects, space technology projects, military industries and productivity, and the oil derivative projects, open opportunities for the establishment of small businesses, invest in education and human resources, all this means diversification.
In light of the diversification policy the contribution of non-oil sector to the GDP exceeded 70%. The World Trade Organisation praised the UAE’s economic diversification policy. The decline in global oil prices, makes us more eager to continue to diversify the economy and increase efficiency and competitiveness policy. We have started planning our economy for the coming years, away from the oil trade.
The cabinet recently decided to form the Council of Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Projects. What are the desired objectives of this council?
It is part of the state’s efforts to diversify the economy and income. The move towards small and medium enterprises is a global trend, and enhances the process of development and competitiveness, contributes to the sustainability of the economy, and helps in diversification. The council will contribute towards supporting these projects, providing expertise and marketing of products. This will open the door for the participation of different social strata in the development process, and give a strong boost to initiatives, while benefiting from knowledge and skills. Anything great starts small.
The tourism potential varies in the UAE in light of the enormous possibilities. But we have noted the significant tourist demand among citizens to go abroad. What do you think about that? How can we encourage domestic tourism as an alternative to foreign tourism for citizens?
The tourism sector in the UAE has made great strides. The UAE has been ranked first in the Middle East in the travel and tourism sector. It was also ranked 30th among 139 countries, surveyed by Competitiveness Travel and Tourism Report for the year 2011, issued by the “World Economic Forum.” There is no doubt that the sector is now more sophisticated compared to the year 2011.
Now, domestic tourism is so active during the summer, but it is difficult for any state to create domestic tourism as an alternative to foreign one. We must not forget that the climatic conditions in the UAE play a role in this area. In summer, citizens prefer the moderate weather abroad, while we see tourists and visitors come to us seeking the desert and the sun.
We emphasise that domestic tourism is booming and the UAE has become the first Gulf destination in light of the availability of all modern tourism standards and its components. There are serious efforts being made to benefit from the advanced infrastructure in developing tourist facilities and services, with the aim to enhance the competitiveness of domestic tourism and make it more attractive to citizens and tourists from the GCC, Arab and foreign states.
