Abu Dhabi, August 9, 2016
The Ministry of Economy recently received a student delegation from the University of North Florida from various disciplines undergoing a study tour of the UAE in coordination with the University of Dubai. The meeting served as a platform for showcasing prominent indicators of the UAE’s strong economic performance. The guests were briefed on future directions and priority sectors in line with the objectives of UAE National Agenda 2021.
Hind Al Youha, Director of Foreign Trade Policies at the Ministry's Foreign Trade Sector, gave a presentation on the goals and priorities of the government in support of the country’s vision of building a sustainable and competitive economy through the promotion of innovation in a number of key sectors. She identified the seven priority sectors of renewable energy, transport, health, education, technology, water, and space and referred to the UAE’s intensified efforts to attract quality investments in order to support these sectors and bring added value to the national economy.
Al Youha added that entrepreneurship and small- and medium-sized enterprises or SMEs are considered top priorities by the government in line with the UAE’s vision of further diversifying its economic base. She pointed out that the UAE has successfully developed a robust economic system in just a short period of time through a flexible legislative structure which attracts investors as well as advanced infrastructure and logistic services which have turned the country into a major regional and global trading hub.
The Ministry’s Dubai office and University of Dubai collaborated in accommodating the visitors. The delegation comprised around 14 students from different faculties in the University of North Florida who were accompanied by a number of professors and assisted by a representative of the University of Dubai.
University of North Florida Prof. Dr. Jeffrey Michelman expressed his admiration for the advanced achievements made by the UAE in several global indices related to the ease of doing businesses in the country.