UAE to adapt private sector systems to new style of governance - top official

Abu Dhabi: The UAE will adapt the private sector systems and processes to its new style of governance to achieve objectives of the Federal Strategic Plan, a minister said yesterday.

"This style has prompted drastic change in the organisational structure of the ministries to streamline procedures and give ministers more time to strategise and coordinate with other ministries and countries," Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Government Sector Development, told Gulf News yesterday.

The new structure provides for keeping the day to day business of a ministry in the hands of its director general, leaving the minister more time to focus on strategising and coordinating with other ministries and countries.

"Ministers will be given more time to think long term, more time to strategise and more time for policy and follow up its implementation. Inadequate monitoring of progress against the Strategic Plan and failure to ensure alignment of annual and other plans with the strategic plan could result in the non-delivery of the plan's objectives and strategies and ultimately, failure to meet targets," he said.

Al Mansouri was speaking of the rationale behind the Cabinet decision to name Directors general in place of Undersecretaries.

Under the new organisational structures of federal ministries passed by the Cabinet on Sunday, a director general will execute policies to be drawn by the minister within the context of the recently announced Federal Strategic Plan.

Three-year strategy

The new system is in line with the cabinet's policy to adopt international best practices in governance and upgrade performance of ministries in harmony with the strategy, according to Al Mansouri.

Last month, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, outlined a three-year strategy with major reforms in education, health, justice and government services.

Al Mansouri said the move is meant to streamline procedures in the ministries.

"Locally, the new model, patterned on the private sector's style, has been implemented in other governmental authorities.

"It has also proved successful in many countries such as Singapore and New Zealand, but our structure is not exactly the same as we aim at developing our unique style of governance as we look forward to effective administration and ingenious and successful policies the UAE is known for."

Al Mansouri noted that the new style of governance is also meant to help ministries get private sector expertise as they redefine their core responsibilities.

Ministries and federal institutions will submit their strategic and operational plans to the Cabinet by the end of next month.