KHALEEJ TIMES, Saturday, Jan 07, 2023 | Jamadi Al Thani 14, 1444
An empowering vision for entrepreneurs and business leaders
Emirates:
The Dubai Economic Agenda, or D33, is quite empowering for entrepreneurs
as well as business leaders and it will drive the future growth of the emirate
and attract more foreign investment inflows into the UAE, corporate leaders and
businessmen say.
While welcoming the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al
Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the
leading industry stakeholders and private sector executives said D33 initiatives
will expand Dubai's foreign trade, foster innovation and entrepreneurship in
years to come.
“I believe all businesses and residents share Sheikh Mohammed’s vision and
commitment in this regard specifically. While most of the world observed Dubai's
social and economic revival from the pandemic, I feel that not as many observed
the Emirate's steady diversification outside of hydrocarbons,” said Dr Lal
Bhatia, chairman, Hilshaw Group.
“Today, Dubai is undoubtedly the region's primary air and shipping hub, with
significant safeguards in place and a rapid transition towards sustainable
energy. Considering the robust performance of its finance, property and tourism
sectors and political stability and security in general, a two-fold economy in
10 years is an inevitability,” he said.
Dubai is the best city
Iqbal Dawood, director, Pakistan Business Council Dubai, echoing the similar
views and said the D33 initiatives will promote Dubai as one of the best cities
to live and work.
“The way Dubai is growing and Rulers are handling development and creating
progressive initiatives is remarkable. This target seems to be achievable
smoothly. Rising growth, exemplary law and order situation and excellent
infrastructure attracted the whole world towards the emirate and this vision
will help Dubai to further strengthen its position,” he said.
Kamal Vachani, group director and partner at Al Maya Group, said the UAE Rulers
continue to inspire the residents and nationals though their visionary policies.
Testament to a sustainable energy future
Dr Mostafa Al Guezeri, managing director of Hitachi Energy, said Dubai's 10-year
growth plan is a testament to our commitment to a sustainable energy future.
“By placing sustainability at the heart of all our operations, we can pave the
way for a carbon-neutral future that will benefit our present and future
generations. It will take dedication, passion, and energy to achieve this goal,
but the rewards will be immeasurable,” he said.
He said it is great to see the D33 economic agenda, which includes a green and
sustainable manufacturing plan, as this demonstrates Dubai's commitment to
sustainability and its leadership in this important area.
“The launch of this green and sustainable manufacturing plan is a testament to
the city's forward-thinking and innovative approach, and we are confident that
it will contribute significantly to Dubai's economic prosperity," he said.
Bharat Bhatia, CEO and founder of Conares, said Dubai's Economic Agenda is a
visionary and ambitious plan that will drive the city's economic growth and
success in the coming years.
“The initiatives to expand Dubai's foreign trade, foster innovation and
entrepreneurship, and support the growth of local businesses will all contribute
to the city's economic growth and success," he said.
A crucial and far-reaching plan
Abdul Jebbar PB, group managing director of Hotpack Global, said the D33
economic agenda is a crucial and far-reaching plan that will drive Dubai's
economic growth and success over the next decade.
“The ambitious goals of this economic agenda will position Dubai as a top global
economic hub and a beacon of success. We believe that this agenda is good for
Dubai and will bring numerous benefits and opportunities to the city and its
people,” he said.
Ali Shabdar, regional director at Zoho Corp for the Middle East and Africa, said
the goal to double the size of the Dubai economy and become one of the top three
economic cities in the world is a testament to the ambition of the Dubai
leadership.
“It will tremendously impact the city’s economic development and growth by
expanding foreign trade and investment, fostering innovation, and encouraging
entrepreneurship,” he said.
A comprehensive and ambitious plan
Abdulla Nalapad, managing director of Nalapad Investments, said the D33 is a
comprehensive and ambitious plan to cultivate growth in the Dubai economy.
“One of the standout initiatives of this agenda is the programme to attract the
world's best universities and make Dubai a global pioneering hub for higher
education. This initiative will not only boost Dubai's reputation as a hub for
learning and knowledge, but it will also attract top talent and create new
opportunities for all stakeholders,” he said.
Emmanuel de Smedt, managing director at Al Muqarram Industry, said Dubai, with
its recent announcement of the D33 economic agenda, has set new standards for
the future.
“The Emirate’s aim to open its doors to newer international markets to double
its current economic status over the next decade will bring incredible
opportunities across all sectors within the region,” he said.
He said the construction sector, particularly, could expect a massive boom
considering the potential opportunities from incoming growth in population,
which will lead to a greater demand for construction projects in the region.
"As a global business hub, we have always been impressed by Dubai's commitment
to driving economic growth and innovation. The Dubai Economic Agenda D33 is a
clear indication that this commitment is stronger than ever, and we look forward
to see the impact it will have on the city's economic development over the next
decade," Karthik Jayaraman, managing director and co-founder at WayCool, said.
Shamsh Hadi, co-founder and CEO of ZorroSign, welcomed the new Dubai Economic
Agenda with open arms.
“It is heartening to see that Sheikh Mohammad make such a significant economic
step. His judgments and policies have always put his people and his nation
first, and this is evident in everything he does. The D33 agenda is yet another
incredibly foresighted approach to diversify the UAE economy and lead the global
economy,” he said.
“The new agenda aims to boost Dubai's economy's productivity by 50 per cent
through innovation and digital solutions, while introducing Dh100 billion annual
contribution of digital transformation projects to the emirate’s economy, which
will be a bigger step in evaluating how the technology is already being utilised
and how blockchain is going to play a bigger role in magnifying this
initiative,” he said.