(MENAFN - Emirates News Agency (WAM)) The Department of Economic Development (DED) in Dubai has announced the launch of the Dubai Competitiveness Office as directed by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council. Khalid Al Kassim, Deputy Director General for Executive Affairs at DED, has also been named the Director of the new office.
The new office aims to enhance the competitiveness of UAE in general and Dubai in particular on the regional and international levels. The new office will support and co-ordinate efforts to achieve welfare and prosperity for Emiratis and upgrade their standard of living.
The competitiveness office will also develop and implement necessary strategies to upgrade the capabilities of Emiratis and strengthen Dubai's standing as an investment destination.
Sami Al Qamzi, Director General of DED, congratulated Al Kassim and said the Dubai Competitiveness Office will play a pivotal role in achieving the government's vision of placing Dubai amongst the most competitive cities in the world.
"Dubai has a stable and diversified economy, world-class transport and communications infrastructure and proximity to strategic markets, in addition to a visionary leadership, transparent policies, family-friendly environment and high standards of living. Embracing competitiveness as the overarching theme in economic activity, services and individual pursuits will facilitate Dubai's move to the next level of growth," said Al Qamzi.
"Dubai Competitiveness Office will consolidate efforts to create best practices and boost performance in the public and private sectors, thus improving Dubai's ranking across global indices. I am confident that Khalid Al Kassim will be able to provide exemplary leadership to Dubai Competitiveness Office with his valuable experience and commitment," added Al Qamzi.
"Competitiveness is the prudent path for Dubai to retain and reinforce its strategic advantages as an enabling business hub and lifestyle choice for people worldwide. The Dubai Competitiveness Office will act as a key source of knowledge and guidance on achieving competitiveness across policies, processes and outcomes in the government and private sectors," Al Kassim said.
In addition to co-ordinating government efforts towards competitiveness in the local and federal levels, the Dubai Competitiveness Office will seek to spread awareness on the concept of competitiveness across all service sectors and implement medium and long term strategies to achieve its goals.
The office will also liaise with the other government departments and institutions in the UAE as mandated by the Dubai Executive Council to evolve an integrated mechanism to leverage Dubai's competitiveness.
Recommending laws and programmes to support competitiveness initiatives, evaluating and following up on international competitiveness reports and indices, providing competitiveness updates on the private and government sectors within Dubai and the UAE, conducting awareness programmes and research are also part of the responsibilities of the Dubai Competitiveness Office.
