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29 March 2024

Mohammed receives New Zealand PM

Published
By Wam

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Sunday received John Key, the visiting Prime Minister of New Zealand, along with his accompanying delegation.

Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai attended the meeting.

During the meeting, Sheikh Mohammed and Key exchanged views on a number of joint dossiers, especially focusing on bilateral relations and methods to enhance them in a number of fields, particularly in tourism, air transport and trade exchanges between the UAE and New Zealand.

Sheikh Mohammed emphasised the strong relations at the official and popular levels between the two countries. He noted that the UAE's leadership and government's approach is aimed at extending human and cultural bridges between its people and peoples across the world, as well as expanding its economic, trade and tourism ties for the benefit of international stability and peace.

He also promised to accept the Prime Minister of New Zealand's invitation to visit Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, at the appropriate time.

During their meeting, Key praised the level of cooperation and friendly ties between the two countries. He also said he hoped his visit would have positive results for both countries, noting the role played by the UAE to build and boost communication bridges, in light of launching 28 weekly flights between Dubai and Wellington.

New Zealand's Prime Minister also pointed out that his country seeks to participate in Dubai Expo 2020, saying he hoped the participating New Zealand companies would benefit from involvement in the international event, which brings together the world under its umbrella and opens investment, economic and trade partnerships, as well as the enhancement of tourism sectors for participating countries.

He further added that Dubai Expo 2020 would contribute to bolstering cultural cooperation and human convergence among peoples and countries.

Among those who attended the meeting were Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Emirates Group, Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy, Dr. Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water and head of the honorary mission, Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State, Mohammed Ibrahim AI Shaibani, Director-General of His Highness the Ruler's Court, Government of Dubai, Khalifa Saeed Suleiman, Director- General of the Department of Protocol and Hospitality in Dubai, and Jeremy Clarke-Watson, New Zealand Ambassador to the UAE.

Mohammed attends launch of first Diploma in Government Innovation

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on Sunday attended the launch of the first Diploma in Government Innovation.

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, was present at the event.

The programme, which will be conducted by the Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation in partnership with the University of Cambridge in the UK, supports the government plan to groom a generation of innovation CEOs in the government entities. Fifty executives from 36 federal and local government departments have joined the first batch of the programme which features intensive training, overseas trips and hosts international experts.

Sheikh Mohammed was keen to attend the first day classes, saying,'' We need, more than at any other time, to build specialised cadres and leaders in innovation to sustain our successes.''

''Innovation is the key to revival of life and progress of humanity. It is in our interest in the UAE to pursue our development, progress and renew our march,'' Sheikh Mohammed added.

Speaking to those participating in the programme, with Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gargawi, Minister for Cabinet Affairs, also among the attendees, Sheikh Mohammed emphasised the paramount importance that the UAE attaches to innovation, adding that the President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan's designation of 2015 as the year of innovation came out of ''our firm conviction that we are living in a rapidly changing world with ever-increasing developments but full of huge opportunities that need professional government leaders who can steer our future in the innovation sector."
 
 Addressing the participants, Sheikh Mohmmed said, ''I don't want you to spend the whole year amidst papers and theories ... we want a practical government innovative project from each one of you..... I and Sheikh Mansour will review these projects with you after six months before implementation. The goal is to develop the government, promote the culture of innovation and improve government projects and services. We no longer have time to wait.''

The diploma aims to promote concepts of government innovation and build specialised national innovation capacities and foster a new government culture to practice government innovation on daily basis.

In 2014, the government launched the National Innovation Strategy that aims to make the UAE among the most innovative nations in the world within seven years.

The strategy will stimulate innovation in seven sectors where innovation is key to excellence: renewable energy, transport, education, health, technology, water and space. Its first phase includes 30 national initiatives to be completed within three years. These include new legislation, innovation incubators, investment in specialised skills, private-sector incentives, international research partnerships, and an innovation drive within government.