The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DoH), and the Global Manufacturing and Industrialization Summit (GMIS) have signed an agreement to establish the UNIDO International Centre for Industry Readiness in the UAE.
Facilitated by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), the joint declaration marks a major milestone in the UAE’s efforts to help promote sustainable industrial development globally and reflects the country’s emergence as an international industrial hub and leader in advanced manufacturing in line with Operation 300 billion.
The new UNIDO center in Abu Dhabi will be established to foster the readiness of industry as an essential component of a pandemic and emergency response. The project consists of three phases design, piloting, and scaling up.
The declaration was signed in the presence of Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Ms. Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Public Education and Advanced Technology, and Mr. Mansour Ibrahim Al Mansouri, Chairman of the Department of Health.
It was signed by Gerd Müller, Director-General of UNIDO, Dr. Jamal Mohammed Al Kaabi, Under-Secretary of the Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DoH), and Badr Al Olama, Head of the Organizing Committee of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialization Summit, at Global Mice Organization Limited (GMOL).
“industry readiness and adaptability have a direct impact on health and quality of life and the world needs to act preventively to face such shocks and major disruption. This pioneering UNIDO International Centre for Industry Readiness based in the UAE is a positive step forward in forging a strong industrial sector, with scaled-up capacity and skill to respond to national and global emergencies. UNIDO is delighted that in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Advance Technology and the Abu Dhabi Department of Health and the Global Mice Organization Limited (GMOL), its expertise in capacity building and industrial development knowledge will be utilized to reach those most in need.”
Mr. Al Suwaidi, Under-Secretary of Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology at the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology said that “Industrial resilience is vital to the function of governments and societies. As a platform for global collaboration and a growing manufacturing hub, the UAE is the ideal location for a center that is dedicated to supporting the international community to enhance industrial readiness for the future,” adding that the ministry is committed to bringing stakeholders, resources, knowledge and experiences together to help enable sustainable and resilient industrial development in an unpredictable world.
Mr. Al Kaabi stated that “Under the directives of the UAE’s wise leadership, Abu Dhabi continues to lead partnerships that reinforce its position as a sustainable destination on the global industrial stage. Through our collaboration with UNIDO, MoIAT and GMIS, we seek to build on our competent response model that has proved its resilience over the last few years. We look forward to working hand in hand with our partners to establish the UNIDO International Centre for Industry Readiness that supports in deploying advanced technologies and developing cutting-edge medical solutions, reiterating Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading destination for innovation in healthcare.”
Mr. Badr Al Olama commented that “The manufacturing industry has always played a pivotal role in overcoming world crises, but with better preparation for unforeseen events, we will be able to save even more lives. The UNIDO Industrial Readiness Centre will mobilize the global manufacturing and technology communities to leverage advanced technologies to predict potential future emergencies and strengthen the supply chain resilience for manufacturers to scale up the production of essential response products.”
Related: KEZAD, Emerging World to establish $30mn food products manufacturing facility
