Day: September 27, 2021

DUBAI, Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, Dubai SME, the agency of Dubai Economy mandated to develop the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector, has launched the fourth cycle of its ‘Dubai SME 100’ programme.

An initiative that ranks the top 100 SMEs in Dubai based on their performance, ‘Dubai SME 100’ aims to identify and qualify distinguished SMEs based on certain financial and non-financial parameters and support their growth in line with international best practices.

The ranking programme is part of Dubai SME’s strategy to strengthen Dubai’s position as a global hub of entrepreneurship and an attractive destination to invest in innovation and creativity. The fourth cycle of the Programme is particularly significant as it will highlight SMEs in Dubai that have shown great resilience and progress despite the challenges posed by the global pandemic.

Commenting on the occasion, Sami Al Qamzi, Director-General of Dubai Economy, said, “The presence of such a large number of small and medium enterprises is a significant factor contributing to the unique diversity and rapid development of the economy in Dubai. SMEs contribute to 47 percent of the GDP and account for 51 percent of the workforce in Dubai. Many of the prominent brands associated with Dubai had their origins as humble startups. SMEs have always provided an attractive solution for entrepreneurial talents in Dubai seeking to translate their creative ideas into successful projects, with the potential to grow globally.”

Al Qamzi added, “Enabling SMEs to grow in an increasingly competitive business environment requires a good understanding of their business models and the challenges they face as well as a commitment to providing solutions and nurturing innovations.”

Abdul Baset Al Janahi, CEO of Dubai SME, said, “‘The ‘Dubai SME 100’ has gone past a number of milestones since its launch and also played a major role in enhancing SME performance in Dubai, which is positively reflected in the overall economy in the emirate. The ranking programme has also contributed to enhancing awareness on the importance of developing the SME sector and the significance of Dubai as an incubator for innovative ideas, in addition to supporting SMEs to grow and attract global investors.”

Al Janahi added, “Our objective is to build on the previous successes of the Programme, especially in these times as SMEs are concerned about handling the economic recovery phase. Results of the previous cycles have shown that 88 percent of ranked SMEs managed to achieve more than 10 percent growth in sales. In addition, high growth SMEs achieving more than 20 percent sales growth accounted for 69 percent. Overall, 98 percent of ranked SMEs managed to improve performance.”

The ‘Dubai SME 100’ programme is an eminent example of the support provided by the Government of Dubai in partnership with the private sector to enhance the productivity and resilience of SMEs so that they can scale up and grow.

‘Dubai SME 100’ has grown into a programme to recognise SME excellence, which in turn has helped a number of SMEs in Dubai to attract global attention. Careem being acquired by Uber for US$3.1 billion, Property Finder attracting US$120 million in investment from US private equity firm General Atlantic, and Dimensions Healthcare, a leading global provider of information and technology services to the healthcare and life sciences industries being acquired by IMS Health, are just some examples of Dubai-based SMEs that have made remarkable success on the global stage.

Given the focus of the Programme on helping enterprises identify gaps and address them, Dubai SME has now restructured ‘Dubai SME 100’ to include a new criteria to assess the rate of productivity and the extent of digital technology adoption.

SMEs ranked under ‘Dubai SME 100’ can enjoy a series of benefits, including a capacity-building programme designed to meet the needs of executives, financial managers, human resources managers, information technology managers and quality managers. The Programme includes the provision of advisory and guidance services and training sessions in partnership with international partners.

Specialised financing solutions at low interest rates provided by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Fund, the financial arm of Dubai SME, in cooperation with the Beehive platform, are also part of the package of benefits offered under ‘Dubai SME 100’. The 100 enterprises ranked are also introduced to a promising business and financing network, in addition to varied channels to enter new markets.

Source: Emirates News Agency

SHARJAH, The 10th edition of the International Communication Forum (IGCF 2021) came to a successful close on Monday, with the participation of 79 experts from 11 countries who shared their ideas and vision on the evolving global communications landscape, in the event held at Expo Centre Sharjah.

Over the two-day forum organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB) under the theme, ‘Historic lessons, Future ambitions’, more than 5700 visitors and attendees witnessed and participated in 31 events featuring 7 panel discussions, 5 inspirational talks, 7 training workshops, and 12 interactive programmes. The two-day forum’s programming agenda was designed to review government communication tools and mechanisms, analyse changes in public perceptions and shape the way forward in government communication efforts.

The forum marked a full decade as a prominent international event that brings together global thinkers, government officials and intellectuals as a common platform to determine the role of government communications in future development plans. The milestone edition focused on the past experiences of government communication, discussed its current realities and envisioned future mechanisms.

At the closing ceremony, Alya Al Suwaidi, Director of SGMB, said: ” We are truly overwhelmed by the strong turnout of support this year and thank everyone who has made this event successful. Surely, the seeds that we have planted here will bear the fruit of prosperity for the future. We thank our participants for presenting rich and diverse ideas and suggestions, which have enriched the forum’s activities and helped us formulate the this edition’s recommendations that will help our cultural and development projects.”

In order to promote good governance and better future readiness, the 10th edition of IGCF put forth a list of recommendations presented by Al Suwaidi, targeting individuals, decision-makers, and institutions at the local and international levels, for the effective implementation of policies to benefit stakeholders and change public perceptions.

The eight-point recommendations list lays out the following: Develop academic curricula for schools and universities that integrate ethics and development practices and introduce critical thinking into them.

Introduce storytelling in government communication teams and departments.

Consolidate efforts to highlight the importance of the Arabic language through its usage across local and global platforms.

Introduce sociology, behavioural and data disciplines to government communication teams.

Educate community on the need to adopt cybersecurity practices as a lifestyle.

Develop government platforms to monitor rumours and dispell them.

Develop govermemt communication strategies based on data science and social behaviour analysis.

Develop a project to restructure goverment communication departments according to the needs and aspirations of future generations.

At the closing of the ceremony, Tariq Saeed Allay, Director General of SGMB, and Alya Al Suwaidi, Director of SGMB, awarded the forums speakers and participants. The forum’s partners and sponsors included Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI); Sharjah Broadcasting Authority; Sharjah Media City (Shams); Expo Centre Sharjah; Sharjah Asset Management; Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority; Emirates Airlines; ENEX; Sky News Arabia; Emirates News Agency (WAM); Al Ittihad newspaper; Dar Al Khaleej; and Dubai Media Inc. were also awarded.

Since its inception in 2012, the IGCF has been successful in highlighting the importance of government communication in creating optimal communication channels between governments and communities, accordance with clear and transparent standards and professional rules. IGCF has made a series of significant accomplishments that have helped strengthen government communication in the UAE and the wider region.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, Mona Al Marri, Director General of the Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO) and President of the Dubai Press Club (DPC), today held a meeting with heads of leading UAE media outlets to discuss an integrated strategy to cover Expo 2020. The extensive meeting, held at the GDMO, sought to map out a comprehensive unified framework for media coverage of the six-month mega event.

The key focus of the meeting was to ensure a coordinated approach among leading media organisations in the UAE so that their coverage raises the profile of the event in the region and across the world and tells the story of how the landmark show will contribute to shaping the future of global innovation, entrepreneurship, technology, mobility, connectivity and sustainability. The coordinated strategy will seek to generate a compelling narrative on the event befitting the global stature and scale of Expo 2020.

Al Marri highlighted the importance of streamlining the efforts of media and dividing roles between various outlets to ensure comprehensive coverage of the mega event, which is being held for the first time in the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia. Billed as the ‘greatest show in the world’, Expo 2020, which starts on 1 October, will welcome delegations representing 192 nations. The President of Dubai Press Club said that the DPC team will be present at the media centre of Expo 2020 to provide assistance to local and international media covering the event.

She stressed that the UAE leadership considers national media outlets as partners in the country’s development journey. “The message of Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is that the UAE is capable of organising the most exceptional Expo in the history of the event. Local media are key players in making that vision a reality. Through a unified strategy, the media can play an instrumental part in ushering in a new era of success and innovation for the UAE,” Al Marri said. She praised the efforts made by local media outlets ahead of the event to raise the global profile of the mega show.

Meanwhile, Director of DPC Maitha Buhumaid, said Expo 2020 will be a landmark event that opens new avenues of development not only in the UAE but also the entire Arab world. She said the DPC team will be at the event to provide support and assistance to the media to help them cover the event. Attendees at the meeting expressed their keenness to cover the event on both traditional and digital media platforms. The meeting also reviewed major events that will take place during Expo 2020 and the stories that are expected to emerge from them.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, today issued directives to grant Dubai Government employees a special paid leave that will enable them to visit Expo 2020 Dubai. The six-day leave can be used during the period of Expo 2020, which runs from October 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, under the theme “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”.

As per the directives, employees will receive a total of six days of leave and will be able to use it anytime throughout the duration of the exhibition from 1 October, 2021 to 31 March, 2022. The leave was granted in order to give employees the opportunity to visit the exhibition with their families and explore the various global solutions and innovations on display.

H.H. said: “Expo 2020 will be a landmark event that unites the world and brings together diverse cultures, streams of knowledge, creative perspectives and innovations from across the world, all under one roof. Our goal is to connect minds and create a bright new future, while also generating positive outcomes that will benefit the world. We want our teams to keep abreast of the latest global developments and be aware of creative ideas coming from different parts of the world.”

“The Government of Dubai is keen to implement innovative solutions to achieve the highest levels of excellence. It is crucial that employees get to learn from the successful experiences and ideas being showcased at the event, which will contribute to inspiring new approaches that can help realise the ambitious goals of the UAE in the next 50 years. We have an exceptional opportunity to create a glorious future, and we want our teams to gain new insights from successful global projects and ventures in order to create the best solutions,” H.H. added.

Sheikh Hamdan’s directives to grant employees the leave are part of his ongoing efforts to support teams across government entities and create an ideal environment that enables them to deliver the highest levels of performance.

Source: Emirates News Agency