Fujairah: The UAE will mark 2015 as the ‘Year of Innovation’, which was approved by the cabinet yesterday (Sunday) in its extraordinary meeting.
The cabinet meeting was chaired by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, at Fujairah fort.
The announcement came in line with the directives of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Shaikh Khalifa stressed the importance of innovation to the UAE’s strategy.
“The announcement of 2015 as the year of innovation comes in support of the Federal Government’s efforts, and the distinctive intensive research efforts to find national cadres that lead our future in this sector towards further progress, prosperity and innovation,” said Shaikh Khalifa.
He added: “Today we live in a rapidly changing world, with speedy developments, great opportunities, discoveries and inventions. Hence we must prepare our generations in a manner commensurate with the world in which we live, and ensure us a place among other nations, thus guaranteeing us a bright future such as our present day.”
He also praised the efforts of the Federal Government under the leadership of Shaikh Mohammad in launching a seven-year integrated national strategy for innovation with 30 national initiatives in its first phase to make the UAE first globally in the field of innovation.
Shaikh Mohammad said that the directives of Shaikh Khalifa in the context of announcing 2015 as the year of innovation comes at the right time to urge efforts, round up energies, and build work teams on federal and local levels with the private sector to achieve Shaikh Khalifa’s vision in building a stable future for coming generations.
Shaikh Mohammad added, “Today, more than ever, we need to stimulate the spirit of innovation in our youth, and establish environments that encourage innovation in our communities, universities and schools. We need to establish methodologies for research, investigation, and exploration in our new generations and we need to urge and push our government and private sectors to explore new areas for the development of our economy.”
He also said that innovation is the only way to build a glorious history for the UAE and the future will be for those with ideas and innovations.
Shaikh Mohammad also affirmed the exceptional cabinet meeting held its session at the Fujairah Fort as an expression of the UAE’s unity and oneness, as there is no difference between any of its locations and that cabinet meetings will be held at any of its locations to be close to all its citizens.
He addressed the cabinet members and said, “We meet today at this 500-year-old fort, while our vision is laying down the future foundation for hundreds of years to come.”
He also reviewed a number of topics and recommendations related to improving services and launching a number of initiatives for 2015 and appropriate decisions were taken.
