The business leaders of Norway, Sweden and Canada must today be scratching their heads and wondering just what more they must do to ensure that their corporate entities must do to regain the competitive advantage that they have lost this past year — with the UAE overtaking them in its move from being the tenth-most competitive nation globally to this year being the seventh.
This standing reflects the efforts of the UAE Government at every level to ensure that the country uses, creates and maximises every possible opportunity and opening to build a truly progressive and prosperous future for all. The clear and undisputed reality is that the UAE, as an economic entity, is making great strides to enhance productivity, profitability and competitiveness, with the grades provided by the highly respected IMD business school in Switzerland in its annual World Competitive Yearbook.
This improved and significant rise in the global competitive rankings reflects an ethos that is ingrained at every level of government, from the Leaders through to ministers, to their departments, and to all who help build a nation that is emboldened and confident in its march of economic and societal progress. Innovation is a key word, the future is embraced, technology is a means, and engagement is wholehearted. This is an ethos that is fundamental in every ministry, in all governmental organisations, in each employee. It’s an ethos too that is reflected in the actions and decisions of each of the seven emirates, and in the daily innovations and enhancements that are being announced and unveiled almost daily.
Being seventh is a tremendous achievement for a nation that is but 46 years young. But this is a nation too that has never settled for being seventh best — and while now is time to bask in our rise, we can do better. Being the best in the world is now within reach — and we have the tools in place to do that.
Well done. But let’s do better. The educational and training network is in place and is being improved at every turn; the regulatory framework allows for creative and innovative thinking; our modern and first-rate infrastructure facilitates our economy; we have forged strong and resilient trading and commercial relationships with our partners; we are at the crossroads of north and south, east and west; we have easy access to international markets; and we have Leaders and a Government that provides and improves incentives and social programmes to enhance service delivery to all.
