Mohammad Al Gergawi Envisions UAE At The Centre Of Next Industrial Revolution

DUBAI, UAE - Dec. 15, 2016 - PRLog -- The UAE is collaborating with World Economic Forum (WEF) to establish the first permanent policy unit to study and implement measures for the "Fourth Industrial Revolution" – the transformation of business and society fueled by technological advances.

The initiative was announced by Mohammad Al Gergawi, UAE Minister for Cabinet Affairs, at the WEF summit of Global Future Councils in Dubai. He committed UAE government's complete backing and the inclusion of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) council in the agenda of UAE Vision 2021 strategy plan.

"This is about concrete projects regarding 4IR to be implemented on the ground," Mr Al Gergawi said, adding that the council would have a concrete presence in the Arabian Gulf region and 5,000 experts from academia, government and the private sector will back the project.

He also talked about the six "pillars" that will guide the council – "its establishment by the Cabinet of the UAE; collaboration with the WEF to develop a global governance framework to implement 4IR technology; the setting up of 4IR councils round the world to advise policymakers on technology implementation."

A special programme will be initiated to engage Gulf region governments. UAE will also be home to world's first laboratory to study and develop 4IR technologies for example 3D printing, Blockchain and artificial intelligence.

As per Al Gergawi, the 4IR presented "challenges and opportunities" for the Arab world. "The education system needs to be changed, we need a system that will produce a different kind of workforce.

"Teachers will have to find a new way of thinking. In the past 10 years there has developed a new way of doing business, with the likes of Google, Uber and Airbnb.
"We have to teach students to be computer coders at an early age."

He also commented that 4IR was "tremendous opportunity for global talent to implement a plan that will impact human life and the prosperity of the world".
Mr Al Gergawi stated UAE's position regarding the new American president-elect, Donald Trump. "We deal with the United States as a country. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has already had a phone call with Mr Trump a couple of days ago.

"Our relationship with America is very strategic. The government of the US is based on institutions and organisations, and we deal with the president as the representative of one of those institutions."

Referrance Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_Al_Gergawi