Business

DUBAI – The Mohammed Bin Rashid Initiative for Global Prosperity on Wednesday announced that AeroFarms, a New Jersey-based global leader in indoor farming, as the winner for the Global Prosperity Award, a programme that reinforces corporate social responsibility through science, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

AeroFarms will provide mentorship support to four start-ups that were identified as the most disruptive solutions for the Global Maker Challenge, which concluded in September 2020 and ran challenges focused on Sustainable and Healthy Food for All, Innovation for Inclusive Trade, Innovation for Peace and Justice, and Climate Change, according a statement from the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS).

The mentorship programme will include training on food safety and quality assurance processes, discussions with AeroFarms’ senior leadership team to strengthen organisational structures, ways to improve private sector engagement, as well as support with public relations and branding.

An expert panel led by Policy Links - Institute for Manufacturing at the University of Cambridge selected AeroFarms for presenting customised support plans to help each of the winning innovators overcome their non-financial operational challenges and achieve greater societal impact.

The judging panel also recognised AeroFarms’ leadership and transformative work in agricultural technology. The Global Prosperity Award was announced during The Global Prosperity Conference at EXPO’s Dubai Exhibition Centre on November 24, 2021.

David Rosenberg, Chief Executive Officer of AeroFarms, said: “The Global Prosperity Award presents AeroFarms with the opportunity to give back and help serve as a role model and inspiration on how to push the boundaries of innovation.

“We are looking forward to working closely with these young organisations that demonstrate an immense drive to make transformative changes in the world and help them improve operational competitiveness and commercial growth. Importantly, this collaboration is closely aligned with AeroFarms’ vision of unlocking disruptive ideas to create a more connected, resilient and sustainable planet.”

Established in 2004, AeroFarms is an indoor vertical farming enterprise that works at the intersection of plant biology, agriculture and disruptive technologies to grow fresh produce and distribute them around the world.

The AgTech company recently announced the launch of AeroFarms AgX, a wholly owned subsidiary to develop the world’s largest indoor vertical farm dedicated to cutting-edge R&D based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The company’s business model addresses 12 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and won the inaugural Global SDG Award for private sector leadership in the advancement of the UN 2030 Agenda, the statement said.

The Global Prosperity Award was formed to encourage global organisations to make a lasting social impact on communities around the world and enable startups to ramp up disruptive solutions addressing some of the world's most pressing challenges.

The award connects entrepreneurs and innovators with experts from partner organisations like AeroFarms.

The four most disruptive solutions identified by the Global Maker Challenge are Agricycle Global, a vertically integrated supply chain to empower rural farmers and connect them to the US market; Algiknit, a creator of eco-conscious renewable and biodegradable fibres and yarns; ID2020, a non-profit organisation that aims to develop digital IDs for billions of undocumented people worldwide; and Ryp Labs Inc. a technology company that aims to reduce food waste by extending the shelf life of fruits and vegetables.

Badr Al Olama, Head of the Organising Committee for the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS), said: “As the world continuously fights to overcome the obstacles caused by the pandemic, it is imperative to leverage disruptive technologies and address societal challenges. By supporting innovators that are creating unconventional solutions to improve the state of the world, the Global Prosperity Award once again underscores the UAE’s commitment towards unlocking new opportunities that can accelerate global good.”

“This is yet another exciting year for the Mohammed bin Rashid Initiative for Global Prosperity. AeroFarms is well-recognised in the technology and food security sectors, and is highly regarded globally for being an innovative and agile organisation. I am confident that the selected makers who have committed so much into creating innovative and bold solutions will benefit from this mentorship programme. I look forward to the day where these solutions are aimed towards tackling the most pressing social, economic and environmental challenges of our times,” he added.

The Global Prosperity Award was announced on the back of a session titled ‘Solving the Mentor-Mentee Equation: Is There a Science to it?’, which was attended by Roberto Croci, Managing Director of Microsoft for Startups, Bruna Braga, Head of Partnership of MIT Solve, Jida Itani, Chief Operating Office for Hub 71, and Moody Soliman, Co-Founder of Ryp Labs Inc.

The session critically examined the core attributes of a successful mentor-mentee relationship in the context of social impact start-ups, drawing on the panel’s experiences, according to the statement. 

Roberto Croci, Managing Director of Microsoft for Startups, said: “Mentorship is what you and your mentee make of it! As a mentor, it is not about having all the answers, it is about displaying empathy, attempting to see things from the mentee’s perspective while not being afraid to probe when things get more intense for your mentee, sharing what you know, including past difficult experiences or situations of your own and translating the unwritten rules and challenges that have helped you develop to where you are now.

“As a mentee, it is about taking initiative in asking for help and advice, coming to the mentor sessions prepared with specific thoughts and topics, discussing your career goals, interests, concerns, issues, or anything on your mind openly with your mentor. Mentorship is about having meaningful conversations and deepening a mutual relationship to search inside yourself and learn from each other, being open to be vulnerable, providing perspective, recognising challenges and seeking for help.”

The Global Prosperity Conference was held during the six-day GMIS Week from November 22-27 at EXPO’s Dubai Exhibition Centre, featuring over 200 global speakers.

DUBAI — The Mohammed Bin Rashid Initiative for Global Prosperity (MBR Initiative) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) on Wednesday announced the launch of the “Decade of Action Challenge”, to promote sustainable and inclusive urbanisation through innovative solutions, partnerships and transformative ideas.

The two organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding to support entrepreneurs and startups develop impactful solutions to address the key challenges of urbanisation and advance equitable economic development in cities, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to a statement from the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS).

The 10-year partnership was born as a result of the shared vision and long-standing association between the two organisations to make cities more prosperous while creating a global innovation ecosystem of social impact leaders made up of UN entities, governments, entrepreneurs, investors, philanthropists, academia and the private sector.

The Partnership was announced by Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, followed by an MoU signed between Erfan Ali, UN-Habitat’s Regional Director for the Arab States and Namir Hourani, Managing Director of GMIS Head of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit Organising Committee, during the Global Prosperity Conference at EXPO’s Dubai Exhibition Centre on November 24, 2021.

In a video message, the Executive Director of UN-Habitat Maimunah Mohd Sharif said: “While rapid urbanisation has transformed cities into engines of economic growth, they also present significant human development challenges, including pollution, poverty, income inequality and infrastructure development. Combatting the challenges of urbanisation and generating opportunities for prosperity requires bold ideas, cross-border and cross sector partnerships.”  

Reinforcing the importance of stimulating inclusive economic progress in cities, each cohort of the Decade of Action Challenge will operate in two-year cycles for a total of five cohorts to encourage startups and entrepreneurs to submit innovative solutions.

Both the Mohammed Bin Rashid Initiative for Global Prosperity and UN-Habitat will support the startups in designing and developing market-driven solutions that will be implemented in urban centres across the world through UN-Habitat’s global and country level networks.

Badr Al Olama, Head of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit Organising Committee, said: “Digital innovation along with robust policymaking is essential to accelerate sustainable urbanisation and create new opportunities for shared prosperity. Advances in digital technology are rapidly pushing the boundaries of socio-economic development, providing governments, businesses and international organisations with innovative tools to build resilient communities.

“The partnership between UN-Habit and the Mohammed bin Rashid Initiative for Global Prosperity is a significant step towards building innovative cities of the future, as the world prepares for unprecedented levels of urbanisation over the next decade. I am delighted to launch the Decade of Action with UN-Habitat, and pull in entrepreneurial talent from around the world to help cities effectively respond to economic shocks, climate change, and improve competitiveness.”

The 10-year partnership was announced at the end of a session titled “The Decade of Action: A Countdown to Prosperity” that examined the role of public private partnerships, knowledge-sharing initiatives, and financing solutions to identify, nurture and scale impact-driven businesses.

 In attendance was Busi Mabuza, Chair of the Board at the Industrial Development Corporation for South Africa, Fadi Ghandour, Executive Chairman of Wamda, Ibrahima Guimba-Saidou, CEO of National Agency for Information Society (ANSI), Vilas S. Dhar, President of the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation.

The Global Prosperity Conference was held during the six-day GMIS Week from November 22-27 at EXPO’s Dubai Exhibition Centre, featuring over 250 global speakers.

DUBAI — The fourth edition of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS) concluded Wednesday with an announcement launching GMIS America.

Set to take place in 2022, the inaugural edition of the event will take place in the City of Pittsburgh, homage to some of the manufacturing sector’s most advanced and sustainable innovations in robotics, artificial intelligence, and 3D printing, according to a GMIS statement.

The announcement reflects the summit’s commitment to delivering strategic outcomes and value to its global network of partners through collaborative efforts and ongoing opportunities for growth through the introduction of innovative solutions, read the statement.

The announcement was made by Namir Hourani, Managing Director of the GMIS Organising Committee at the closing ceremony of the fourth edition of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (#GMIS2021).

Moderated by Simin Yazdgerdi Curtis, President, CEO and Founder of the American Middle East Institute (AMEI), the closing ceremony witnessed keynote speeches from Diane Farrell, Acting Undersecretary for International Trade at the US Department of Commerce, and Thomas Wolf, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The session wrapped up with a panel discussion between Michael Lordi, CEO of Elliott Group – a Pennsylvania-based turbomachinery company, Petra Mitchell, President and CEO of Catalyst Connection and Board Member of the Advanced Robotics in Manufacturing (ARM) Institute, and Danny Sebright, President of the US-UAE Business Council. Bill Flanagan, Chief Corporate Relations Officer at the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, and Audrey Russo, President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Technology Council, joined the panel virtually.

Hourani said: “With such a strong history in traditional manufacturing, once being a major industrial powerhouse, and the ongoing story of how the city continues to reinvent itself into becoming a centre for advanced technologies and manufacturing, Pittsburgh makes the utmost sense as a location not only for the inaugural GMIS America scheduled for 2022, but also to establish an ongoing annual GMIS America edition in the United States.”

Pittsburgh was the second city in the US to adopt the UN Sustainable Cities preceded by its adoption of the Four Principles encompassing People, Planet, Place and Performance (P4) set forth to index and monitor targeted policy actions.

Its traditional manufacturing legacy combined with strong leadership, quality infrastructure, collaborative mindset, and proximity to two world-class, research-focused universities have allowed the city to reinvent itself as a major centre of technological innovation and advanced manufacturing in the US.

Delivering a special address, Farrell pointed: “At the United States Department of Commerce, we are committed to create conditions that contribute to business and job growth by promoting advanced manufacturing, fostering innovation and increase in trade and investment. In line with the mission brought through by the GMIS platform, we look forward to be part of this great opportunity to foster global collaboration.”

Highlighting Pittsburgh’s successful story of transitioning into a city at the forefront of innovation and advanced technologies, Wolf said: “The mission of the GMIS and Pittsburgh’s unique ecosystem align seamlessly, so it’s an honour to announce that the city will not only host next year’s summit but also establish a long-term, collaborative partnership with GMIS.”

 “Pittsburgh is a city with incredible history that continues to reinvent itself and my administration is committed to fuelling its growth and transformation, bringing new opportunities to both western Pennsylvania and the commonwealth as a whole,” he said.

With the support of the AMEI, GMIS America will be hosted in 2022.

Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the American Middle East Institute is set to closely collaborate with the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit to host the event next year. Upon thanking GMIS for choosing Pittsburgh as its host, Curtis said: “GMIS couldn't have picked a more exciting host than Pittsburgh, a city that has reinvigorated its economy again and again with a unique brand of grit and innovation. I am delighted that the bridge-building mission of AMEI has brought GMIS to our city.”

Commenting on the announcement, Badr Al Olama, head of the Organising Committee of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation, said: “GMIS America will showcase the Pittsburgh story to the rest of the world. As a national and global hub for advanced manufacturing, Pittsburgh serves as a perfect example for other cities around the world that are embarking on an advanced industrialisation journey. The Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit was launched in Abu Dhabi in 2017, and has since taken place in Russia and Germany (virtually) before coming to Dubai this year. Extending our reach to the United States was the natural next step for us.”  

DUBAI – Shamma Al Mazrui, the UAE’s Minister of State for Youth Affairs, on Wednesday opened The Global Prosperity Conference at the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS) Week.

In her keynote speech, she highlighted the importance of investing in youth for a future industrial and manufacturing sector that is both sustainable and innovative, according to a GMIS statement.

She said: “Investing in all youth leads to unlimited compound interest and true prosperity. The Global Prosperity Conference is about serving humanity for the long term and investing in the young people who will carry our torches the farthest.

“The UAE’s model of investing in youth is a living case study on the path to real 21st-century prosperity. We listen to youth, act on their ideas, and put them front and centre alongside policy- and decision-makers. We make youth the innovators and creators of our tomorrow.”

Mazrui also referred to the results from the recently published Arab Youth Survey, which she said is proof that the region is “filled with hope and optimism” for the progression of the next generation.

“If you have a hope map, youth are the GPS. Youth if they despair, then we regress. If they hope, we move forward. If they prosper, humanity will profit.”

DUBAI — The Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS) on Tuesday announced the intent to establish the Global Biomedical Industrial Centre, a collaborative legacy initiative that will take shape in the UAE.

The initiative will be implemented in partnership with the UAE  Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).

The initiative sets to advance manufacturing capabilities in the life sciences sector, foster cooperation between governments and biomedical enterprises, and prepare the world to predict and respond to future healthcare threats through a centralised hub of excellence, according to a GMIS statement.

The Global Biomedical Industrial Centre will facilitate collaborative efforts to develop cutting-edge medical products and solutions, facilitate knowledge transfer of life science innovations and capabilities, and promote the adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies to build global resilience in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the statement said.

Inspired by the UAE’s tremendous leadership in curbing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the production of advanced protective equipment and contact tracing initiatives, the “Global Biomedical Industrial Centre” was announced at the fourth edition of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (#GMIS2021) by Omar Al Suwaidi, undersecretary of Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, Badr Al Olama, head of the GMIS Organising Committee, and Bernardo Calzadilla-Sarmiento, UNIDO managing director.

Suwaidi said: “COVID-19 has taught us that leadership, science, technology and scaled-up collaboration can achieve near-miracles. Importantly, the crisis has underlined the importance of a collaborative industrial sector that works alongside partners across public and private sectors to boost productivity and enhance the quality of products, not just in a medical context, but across every sphere.   

“The Global Biomedical Industrial Centre will draw on the UAE’s considerable innovation capabilities, demonstrated during the height of the pandemic when we were able to respond — at speed — by producing vaccines and manufacturing the personal protection equipment so critical for healthcare workers to save lives, regionally and across the globe. The centre embodies the UAE’s position as an emerging R&D hub employing global standards and transitioning to becoming a regional and global centre for manufacturing,” he added.

The Global Biomedical Industrial Centre will position itself as a leading hub to develop effective policy responses to future risks, expand technological and manufacturing capabilities in both developed and developing economies, provide a platform for healthcare data sharing, and mitigate global disparities in access to medical supplies and innovations, the statement said.

In addition, the centre will contribute towards the harmonisation of regulatory policies and standards needed to drive the adoption of technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things and 3D Printing in the healthcare industry, while strengthening collaboration between R&D, technology developers and life sciences enterprises to manufacture vaccines and medical equipment efficiently and competitively.  

Calzadilla-Sarmiento said: ”Manufacturing, both in its digitalised and traditional forms, has shown its value in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic and improving resilience and recovery. From production of personal protective equipment and ventilators to harnessing AI for contact tracing, industry has been crucial to the mitigation of the crisis.

“As we move forward towards the post-pandemic phase, the onus is now on the international community to adopt preventative approaches to future global disruptions, harnessing data and digital capacities, upscaling industrial capabilities and life sciences to avoid crises. UNIDO looks forward to taking the next steps to operationalize the Global Biomedical Industrial Centre, in partnership with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology and GMIS.”

“The launch of this unconventional global initiative represents the outcome and lasting legacy of #GMIS2021 and highlights the summit’s commitment to promoting advanced industrialisation and digital innovation, while contributing to sustainable economic development and wellbeing of societies around the world,” read the statement.

Under the theme “Rewiring Societies: Repurposing Digitalisation for Prosperity”, #GMIS2021 is held at EXPO’s Dubai Exhibition Centre, featuring heads of state and CEOs of some of the largest organisations participating in 30 sessions.

The Global Biomedical Industrial Centre was announced at a press conference ahead of a panel discussion titled, “UNIDO and the Global Health Initiative: Utilising Cyber-Physical Technology to Enhance Pandemic Resilience and Improve Health Outcomes”.

Badr Al Olama, head of the Organising Committee of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation, said: “As the world embraces the digital revolution, we must leverage our combined knowledge, insights and resources to promote sustainable industrial development and tackle the toughest socio-economic challenges. This belief is at the core of the Global Biomedical Industrial Centre, a landmark initiative by GMIS, UNIDO and the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology to develop constructive solutions for future health emergencies and risks.

“The centre is also a clear demonstration of the UAE’s commitment to expanding a digitally powered manufacturing sector, advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and creating an inclusive, just and sustainable global economy.”

Under the theme “Rewiring Societies: Repurposing Digitalisation for Prosperity”, the #GMIS2021 Summit took place on November 22-23 and gathered a cross-section of close to 125 global leaders from the public and private sector.

DUBAI — PwC, the global professional services  firm, and the  HYPERLINK "http://gmisummit.com/" \h Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS) on Monday announced the extension of their long-standing knowledge partnership to explore the role of human-led tech-powered solutions  in shaping the future of work and accelerating digital transformations to chart a sustainable course for future of the industrial sector.

By combining GMIS and PwC’s expertise in thought-leadership and business advisory services, respectively, the partnership will explore the rising importance of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics to create smarter, secure and sustainable supply chains, boost industrial productivity, reduce operating costs, develop hybrid workplaces where humans and robots seamlessly work together and drive sustainability at the very heart of the manufacturing sector, according to a GMIS statement.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), PwC and GMIS will also collaborate on a series of knowledge sharing initiatives, including the launch of white papers, to identify the future skill needs in manufacturing, drive the adoption of the Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies to enable innovative R&D initiatives for sustainable manufacturing in a digital-first industrial landscape.

Anil Khurana, Global Industrial Manufacturing & Automotive Leader of PwC, said: “Companies around the world are embracing disruptive technologies to redefine their work environments, blur the lines between physical and digital worlds and meet their net zero commitment. Meeting sustainability goals is one of the key strategic imperatives for organisations and PwC is committed to helping them harness the power of automated workplaces and agile production systems to unlock the next wave of sustainable industrial innovation. 

“As we join hands with the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit, we look forward to contributing to global discussions on the future of jobs, workplaces, manufacturing systems and technology adoption to help organizations deliver lasting growth.” 

According to  HYPERLINK "https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/industries/industrial-manufacturing/coo-pulse-survey.html?WT.mc_id=CT10-PL102-DM2-TR2-LS4-ND30-TTA9-CN_Manufacturing-COO-Pulse-Sept-2021-InternalComms" PwC COO Pulse Survey of C-level leaders with responsibility for manufacturing operations, more than half (52 per cent) of respondents said that, of all the changes in customer needs and behaviours, the growing demand for sustainable products is having the largest impact on operations.

When asked to prioritise the societal outcomes that business should help deliver, CEOs put the creation of a skilled, educated and adaptable workforce at the top of the list. At the same time, a growing number of CEOs are seeking to boost their organisation’s competitiveness through digital investments in the workforce; 36 per cent aim to focus on productivity through technology and automation, which is more than double the share of CEOs who said the same in 2016. Anecdotally, CEOs in a variety of industries have spoken about their plans to incorporate or expand their use of digital technologies and automation, according to the statement.

Drawing on key global leaders from government, business, and civil society, #GMIS2021 will create important opportunities to explore shifting skill requirements across the industrial sector, and how organisations are redesigning their operations to reap the benefits of technological advances for more sustainable value creation in the future. 

The summit will organise discussions on topics such as increasing digital mobility at work, the latest digital trends driving enhancements across the value chain, how organisations can prepare for the next phase of industrial growth, as well as the future of renewable energy. 

Badr Al Olama, head of the GMIS Organising Committee said: “From factory floors to oil refineries, the industrial sector is undergoing a fundamental transformation in the way it operates due to the advent of disruptive technologies and automation. PwC and GMIS have come together to provide business leaders with insights into the fast-changing technology landscape and help them truly understand the impact of automation on production capabilities, supply chain operations and skill development. As the pace of change continues to accelerate within the manufacturing world, GMIS is delighted to extend its partnership with PwC, a world leader in providing industry-focused advisory services.”

To be held at EXPO’s Dubai Exhibition Centre from November 22-27, #GMIS2021 will highlight how the evolving forms of interactions between and among humans and machines are becoming the leading factors shaping the future of workforce, manufacturing, policymaking, sustainable development and global economies. 

Discussions at the summit will take place across several formats, including presentations, networking events, interviews with industry experts, interactive workshops and panel sessions. #GMIS2021 will host three Global Panorama Sessions exploring the challenges and opportunities facing European and North American manufacturing and the drive toward ‘green’ investments, the different development strategies in Latin America and Southeast Asia and the role of digital connectivity to optimise global integration, as well as how digital technologies can drive prosperity in Africa and the Middle East.  

In addition, the summit will organise side-events and conferences focused on strengthening commercial links and bilateral relations between different countries, harnessing open innovation to solve the world’s toughest socio-economic challenges, as well as strengthening renewable energy generation for a cleaner and more inclusive energy future.

DUBAI — Developing zero-carbon technologies is a global priority for the global manufacturing and industrial sector if nations are to begin repairing the planet from the impact of climate change, according to Saed Al Awadi, CEO of Dubai Industries and Exports.

Awadi delivered these opening remarks as the fourth edition of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (#GMIS2021) officially got underway at the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo 2020 Dubai, according to a GMIS statement.

Addressing an audience of leading industry and manufacturing leaders, Awadi said: “At COP26 we saw that developing zero-carbon tech is vital for the manufacturing sector. The sector must be part of delivering the targets set out in Glasgow.”

Awadi pointed out that the UAE’s industrial and manufacturing sector is successfully tackling the challenge of helping the country reach net zero emissions by 2030, which he said can only be further driven by building a world-class manufacturing sector underpinned by advanced technologies and Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) solutions.

He went on to outline a three-part process for enhancing the performance and efficiency of the sector, saying: “First, we must embrace automation and big data – the tools of the Fourth, and later this decade, the Fifth Industrial Revolution.

“Second, we must develop zero-carbon tech in the industrial sector. And third, we must engage more women and young entrepreneurs in the sector.  They can drive an innovation-first mindset,” he added.

DUBAI — Zimbabwe’s Minister of Industry and Commerce Sekai Nzenza on Tuesday credited access to education for shaping her leadership capabilities, and urged others to look beyond the headline “statistics that often blur, or do not reflect the true reality of African women, leaving out their knowledge, wisdom, and entrepreneurial spirit.”

Nzenza’s remarks came during a panel session on day two of the fourth edition of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (#GMIS2021) on Tuesday.

The summit celebrated female leaders in business and multilateral organisations and emphasised the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in levelling the playing field for gender equality in a future workforce, according to a GMIS statement.

Highlighting the positive impact of technology on increasing women’s inclusion in male-dominated sectors, such as oil and gas, Fatema Al Nuaimi, CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Liquified Natural Gas (ADNOC LNG), said: “Technology is going to play a key role in enabling the integration of more and more women into the LNG sector, which has traditionally had challenging workplace conditions for women to operate in, as we explore remote field operations and integrating AI for automation.”

These industry transformations will require “talent regardless of its background,” she added.

Speaking on emancipating the job market, Chiara Corazza, special representative to the G7 and G20 at the Women’s Forum for the Economy & Society, said: “85% of jobs in 2030 do not exist yet, but STEM education will offer the same opportunities for our young boys and girls, because talent has no gender.”

“There is a leaky pipeline for women talent in STEM,” said Ayumi Moore Aoki, founder and CEO of the global NGO Women in Tech, referring to the lack of women who receive STEM education without entering the STEM workforce, and the subsequent loss of interest in STEM subjects among teenage girls.

She added that women need to be encouraged into leadership from a young age, “from classroom to boardroom, we need to teach women to become leaders”.

For her part, Tiffany Kelly, founder and CEO of Beyond Bamboo, an online marketplace and wholesale platform for sustainable and ethical products, said: “We need to look at a culture change, and move away from the parasitic view of leadership and towards inclusive leadership standards that encourages collaboration and partnership.”

Jan Ward, CEO of industrial parts maker Corrotherm, said: “Ultimately, if you don’t have diversity, you don’t get diversity of creativity and understanding.”

Under the theme “Rewiring Societies: Repurposing Digitalisation for Prosperity”, #GMIS2021 convened key global leaders from government, business and civil society to discuss how data and connectivity are shaping the future of the manufacturing sector while presenting opportunities for investments in technology, innovation and industrialisation, according to the statement.

DUBAI —With a special emphasis on the summit’s host country, a dedicated session at the fourth edition of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (#GMIS2021) explored the role of the UAE’s National Strategy for Industry and Advanced Technology in driving the development of a diversified industrial economy in the country over the next 30 years.

The strategy, “Operation 300Bn”, stems from “an integrated vision of the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) to strengthen the UAE’s industrial sector and establish the country as a global hub for future industries”, read a GMIS statement.

Abdallah Al Shamsi, assistant undersecretary for the Industrial Growth Sector at MoIAT, noted that the UAE is well-placed to diversify its economy.

Speaking at the panel discussion titled “Operation 300Bn: Make it in the Emirates” on the second day of #GMIS2021, he said: “There is a lot we can do within existing sectors to go to the next level to increase value added, and we have the capital, know-how, and comparative advantages to help us develop new sectors.” 

He added that coordinating efforts between government entities and national industrial champions will be a critical success factor in paving the way for industrial growth.

During the session, Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi, CEO of Emirates Steel, said “Operation 300Bn” was an ambitious but important target, and that SMEs were at the heart of the strategy.

He added that public-private partnerships are necessary to bring efficiency to the system and to inject foreign direct investments (FDI) into the economy.

Ahmed Mohamed Al Naqbi, CEO of Emirates Development Bank (EDB), said the bank was adapting to diversification by focusing on accelerating industrial development in the UAE and enabling SMEs to be a core piece of the ecosystem.

He added that EDB was filling gaps by facilitating entrepreneurship and supporting start-ups through initiatives such as this year’s launch of the first digital business bank in partnership with MoIAT. 

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, CEO of Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), said that post-pandemic demand for products was outstripping supply, and that sustainability was top of the company’s agenda and a high priority for customers. SMEs are crucial for Operation 300Bn, he added.

Khaleefa Yousef Al Mheiri, acting CEO of TA’ZIZ, said the chemical sector plays a vital role in diverse manufacturing sectors, and there will be opportunities down the value chain, as most projects will be producing chemicals for the first time.

Saud Abu Al Shawareb, managing director of Dubai Industrial City, spoke about demand in the industrial sector and growth at Dubai Industrial City. Existing and new partners alike are getting support with commercial incentives and government approvals, he said, adding that he looked forward to working with the government to attract more sophisticated, high-end industries, such as mechanical and equipment process line manufacturing and pharma.

Co-chaired by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), #GMIS2021 convened over 250 policymakers and industry leaders from around the world to engage in 70 sessions from November 22 to 27 at Expo’s Dubai Exhibition Centre.

Under the theme “Rewiring Societies: Repurposing Digitalisation for Prosperity”, the summit explored the role of data and connectivity in shaping the future of supply chains, green manufacturing, sustainable energy, climate action, policymaking, and resilient global economies, according to the statement.