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The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology announced distinguished achievements for the year 2023, which were achieved by focusing on 4 main axes, which included: providing an ideal industrial business environment that supports the growth and attractiveness of companies and investors in the UAE, enhancing national content in the industrial sector, and accelerating the pace of technological transformation that supports efficiency and competitiveness. And enhancing efforts to pioneer sustainable industrial transformation, as these axes are in line with the objectives of the national strategy for industry and advanced technology.

The achievements included the growth and expansion of the industrial sector in the country, and contributing to advancing the national economy in the medium and long term, through implementing an integrated system of legislation and policies, launching initiatives, programs and projects, and enhancing coordination, partnership and cooperation with all strategic partners at the federal, local, regional and international government levels. And the private sector, to ensure stimulating quality partnerships, attracting more industrial investments, especially in vital and priority sectors, supporting entrepreneurship and innovation, and empowering emerging, small and medium-sized companies in the industrial sector.

Leadership support

On this occasion, His Excellency Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, said: The Ministry is focusing on implementing the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, “may God protect him,” and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE and President. The Cabinet and Ruler of Dubai, “may God protect him,” and His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the UAE, Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the Presidential Office, to promote the growth and development of the national industrial sector, and achieve comprehensive and sustainable economic development by redoubling efforts and building a strong, supported industrial sector. With an integrated legislative and regulatory system that takes advantage of the competitive advantages of the UAE.

He added: The Ministry continues its efforts to achieve a qualitative shift in the industrial sector and enhance its competitiveness and contribution to the gross domestic product, by benefiting from integrated and modern work systems and advanced technology solutions. During the year 2023, the Ministry achieved many positive results supporting the growth of the industrial sector in the UAE, most notably the completion of 30 % of the target of the “300 billion project”, bringing the industrial sector’s contribution to the gross domestic product to an estimated 197 billion dirhams by the end of 2023.

He continued: Since the launch of the “300 Billion Project”, the country’s industrial exports have witnessed an increase of 17%, industrial productivity has also recorded a growth of 7%, and import substitution projects worth 9.3 billion have also been identified, reflecting the positive impact of the enablers and incentives provided to the industrial sector in the UAE. In 2023, the country ranked first regionally and 29th globally in the competitive industrial performance index issued by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

His Excellency explained that the Ministry, in cooperation with its strategic partners, the Emirates Development Bank, Mashreq Bank and First Abu Dhabi Bank, provided the industrial sector with flexible financing solutions worth 5.3 billion dirhams (a 70% growth over the year 2022) to enhance the ability of industrial companies to grow, expand business and compete, as 90 % of the beneficiaries of these solutions are small and medium enterprises, in addition to 3.3 billion dirhams of industrial investments in biotechnology, hydrogen and electric vehicles. The Ministry, in cooperation with Etihad Export Credit, also provided credit solutions worth up to 1.4 billion dirhams in 2023 to support the exports of industrial companies.

His Excellency said: In support of the growth of local supply chains, the “National Content Program” (formerly National Value Added) recorded qualitative achievements this year in redirecting spending on local purchases and services to the national economy, which contributed to achieving a 17% growth in local spending to reach 61 billion dirhams, and 28% (equivalent to 31 billion dirhams) of the total local purchasing opportunities announced through the two sessions of the “Make in the Emirates” forum, amounting to 120 billion dirhams, have been completed.

His Excellency added: As part of its efforts to enhance the role and opportunities of Emirati cadres and competencies in the industrial sector, the Ministry was keen to launch training and qualification initiatives and programs that support national competencies, which contributed to the employment of 7,000 Emirati citizens in the companies registered in the “National Content” program. The Ministry also introduced the “Manufacturers Program” to empower Emiratis, which brought together factories with job seekers, and contributed to providing 500 technical jobs in the industrial sector during 2023 in its first session.

His Excellency pointed out that the Ministry is keeping pace with the UAE’s trends in the field of sustainability and climate action, by stimulating the adoption of advanced technology and sustainability practices throughout the entire value chain of the industrial sector, and announcing a “road map to reduce carbon in the national industrial sector” by up to 93% by the year 2050. As part of the Ministry’s participation in the activities of the COP28 Conference of the Parties, which was hosted by the UAE late last year.

Future trends

For her part, Her Excellency Sarah bint Youssef Al Amiri, Minister of State for Public Education and Advanced Technology, said: The Ministry, in line with the directives of the wise leadership, achieved many achievements and positive results during the year 2023 that support the growth of the UAE industrial sector, which contributed to enhancing efficiency and competitiveness, and increasing attractiveness. Investment, at the level of strategic industries and priority industries for the national economy, especially with the launch of many programs and initiatives supporting the promotion of technological transformation in the industrial sector, which reflected positively on the competitiveness of the UAE on global indicators, as it ranked first regionally and advanced five places at the global level. In the United Nations Technology Readiness Index.

She added: As part of its efforts to stimulate the adoption of innovative technological solutions in the industrial system in the country, the Ministry launched the Industrial Technological Transformation Index in 2023, to form a main pillar of the national strategy for industry and advanced technology, during which a road map for the technological transformation of 153 companies was evaluated and developed. The evaluations led to an increase in the application of sustainability practices in industrial companies, bringing the percentage of applied companies to 70%, while the percentage of companies that adopted the solutions of the Fourth Industrial Revolution is 32%, and 360 high-tech jobs were created, while the investment value in technology in the companies that were evaluated was estimated at 600 million. Dirham.

Her Excellency noted that the Ministry has integrated the Industrial Technological Transformation Index into the National Content Program equation, to motivate companies to evaluate their capabilities and adopt sustainability practices in their business, in a way that supports improving productivity, enhancing competitiveness, and raising operational efficiency in line with national efforts for industrial transformation through advanced technology solutions.

Her Excellency stressed that the technological transformation program, with its pillars and enablers, works to raise the level of awareness, provide technical support and capacity building, and create an attractive experimental environment, in addition to providing financial and non-financial incentives to enable technological transformation in priority sectors.

Enablers and incentives

In line with the objectives of the National Strategy for Industry and Advanced Technology, and based on the focus of providing an ideal industrial business environment that supports growth and competitiveness, the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology continued during the year 2023 to provide an integrated system of enablers, incentives, financing solutions, and a flexible legislative structure that supports the growth and development of the national industrial sector and enhances its competitiveness. Including issuing the executive regulations regarding the organization and development of the industry, and providing new financing solutions worth 5.3 billion dirhams, a growth of 70% compared to 2022.

In cooperation with its strategic partners, the Ministry provided customs exemptions to manufacturers on industry inputs including machinery, equipment and raw materials worth 3 billion dirhams, as well as 1.4 billion dirhams as credit solutions to enhance exports in cooperation with the Etihad Export Credit Company.

To support the ease of doing business, during 2023, fees for industrial services were reduced by 52% compared to 2022, which contributed to reducing fees on industrial companies by a value of 29.5 million dirhams.

During the second session of the “Make in the Emirates” forum, which witnessed the announcement of new local purchasing opportunities, investment projects and financing packages, the first session of the “Make in the Emirates Awards” program was launched to celebrate those with distinguished visions, entrepreneurs and innovators who contribute to shaping and strengthening the future of the industry. In the UAE, and announcing the results of the “Make in the Emirates for Startups” competition, which aimed to showcase ideas, technical solutions, and business models that promote sustainable technological transformation, support the directions of future industries, and enable companies working in the field of technology to highlight their innovations and find direct communication with investors.

National content

During the year 2023, through the axes of the “National Content Program,” the Ministry worked to ensure the creation of an advanced national industrial system that enhances the performance and growth of various categories of emerging, small, medium and large companies, keeps pace with future standards, and enhances the competitiveness of the product manufactured in the Emirates.

The “National Content Program” recorded a number of qualitative achievements, most notably the increase in the value of local spending on products and services within the entities implementing the program to reach 61 billion dirhams, a growth of 17% compared to 2022, and within the goal of enhancing sustainability, purchasing opportunities for “green” products reached 200 million. dirhams, and the number of government agencies and major business institutions joining the program recorded a total growth, reaching 28 entities nationwide.

The number of companies obtaining the National Content Program certificate increased to 5,500 companies, a growth rate of 22% compared to the year 2022. The program also contributed to increasing the number of Emirati competencies working in companies that obtained its certificate by 80%, as it rose from nearly 9,000 in the year 2022. To reach approximately 16 thousand jobs during 2023.

Under the umbrella of the Manufacturers Programme, the “Manufacturers” Exhibition was organized, specializing in jobs in industry and advanced technology, which provided 500 job and training opportunities for national competencies in the national industrial sector, and more than 400 Emiratis signed employment offers.

Technological transformation

To advance the pace of technological transformation in the industrial sector, the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology launched the Industrial Technological Transformation Index in cooperation with the Department of Economic Development – Abu Dhabi in February 2023, to form a comprehensive framework for measuring the level of technological maturity and sustainability of factories, and to support them in achieving technological transformation by contributing to the development of a road map. To enable its technological transformation.

Under the umbrella of the Technology Transformation Program, and within the Industry 4.0 Empowerment Centers initiative, a new Empowerment Center was launched in cooperation with the UAE University, in addition to the center that was previously launched in cooperation with the “Edge Group” in the year 2022. These centers aim to enhance the adoption of advanced technology in the sector. Industrial and building the technical and technological capabilities of factories and individuals in the country by providing the necessary support to develop digital strategies and implement technological transformation projects.

During 2023, the Ministry organized a group of initiatives and programs within the Industry 4.0 Empowerment Centers, including the “4.0 Tours” program, the “Leadership 4.0” program, and the “Industry 4.0 Hackathon,” in which more than 150 industrial sector leaders participated.

Within the Technological Transformation Programme, the Ministry launched a number of incentives to accelerate the process of technological transformation in the industrial sector, including an additional 5% bonus for industrial companies within the National Content Programme, golden residency for talents in the field of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and technological transformation grants provided by the Department of Economic Development in Abu Dhabi using an index. Industrial technological transformation as one of the criteria.

Sustainable industries

In line with the UAE’s goals to achieve sustainable economic development with the participation of all sectors, the Ministry launched during the year 2023 a group of programs and initiatives that support the application of sustainability practices throughout the entire industrial value chain, the most important of which is the Green ICV bonus within the “National Content Programme”, as this bonus grants a 3% rate. Additional for companies implementing sustainability practices within the National Content Program evaluation.

As part of the continuous modernization efforts of the national industrial system, the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology continued to develop the quality infrastructure system, which contributed to attracting industrial investments worth 380 million dirhams in the plastic recycling industries, which resulted directly from the issuance of the technical regulations concerned with the circulation of bottled drinking water in… Recycled plastic containers.

COP 28

In line with the UAE’s hosting of the COP28 Conference of the Parties, and to enhance its contribution to achieving the goals of the strategic initiative to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology recorded a set of achievements during its participation in COP28, most notably the announcement of a road map to reduce carbon in the industrial sector in a phased manner aimed at achieving a reduction By 93% by 2050, and during its participation in the COP28 Conference of the Parties, the Ministry hosted 43 startup companies in the field of climate technology within the Technology and Innovation Center and the Startup Village platform, and organized 5 specialized sessions in stimulating innovation, research and technological development in cooperation with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization. UNIDO”, in order to contribute to achieving sustainable development of the industrial sector and to enable entrepreneurship and innovation.

Integrated industrial partnership

The Ministry established an integrated industrial partnership with Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain with the aim of creating a qualitative shift in the sustainable growth process of the industrial sector, in a way that supports efforts to achieve self-sufficiency, food and health security, and the integration of value chains in vital and priority industries, enhance the role of the private sector, and provide new job opportunities that enhance Sustainable economic growth, and by the end of 2023, the volume of joint industrial investment projects under the umbrella of the partnership between member states reached $3.3 billion.

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