Security and decent living rights to each citizen: Mohammed

The Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has said that the security and decent living were the rights for each UAE citizen.

"The achievement of development and the social empowerment for Emiratis top the priorities of the government, which always seeks to invest on human resources, being the core of social development," he added.

The remarks were made after the endorsement of the 'Social Solidarity Fund' for the Emirate of Dubai.

Upon the directives by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, the law was drafted in accordance with the framework adopted by the Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai after the approval of financial benefits policy presented by the Community Development Authority (CDA) in Dubai.

Sheikh Hamdan instructed the implementation of policies that support the social development objectives in line with the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015.
Abdullah Abdul Rahman Al Sheibani, Secretary General of the Executive Council said the endorsement of Social Solidarity Fund comes in line with the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 to ensure good living conditions for citizens.

For his part, Khalid Al Kamda, Director General of the CDA in Dubai said at a press conference that the law comes in line with the concept of social empowerment, a key principle of the Strategic Plan of the CDA.

Cabinet meeting

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, today chaired the Cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace here in Abu Dhabi.

Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs were also present.

The Cabinet today endorsed the federal law to support and develop Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) nationwide.

The new law aims to encourage innovation, research and shift towards the knowledge economy, as well as strengthening the state's competitiveness in business at the regional and international levels.

It also issues a mandatory resolution to represent women in the state owned companies and agencies' Board of Directors.

The resolutions were approved in the Council of Ministers' meeting chaired by the UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs were also present.

Sheikh Mohammed said the support of youth small and medium enterprises nationwide "aims at creating new generation of entrepreneurs to further boost and diversify the national economy. Our wishes for Emirati youth are enormous. We always tell them do not get scared about small beginnings but have big dreams." He pledged that the federal government will provide support to make the small and medium enterprises successful. "Small enterprises will grow and today's youth are leaders of private sector tomorrow." Commenting on the resolution for representation of woman in the Board of Directors of the state owned agencies and companies, the Vice President said the existence of women in the Board of Directors would give these bodies some balance as women work in them. "Emirati women have proven their capacities in different work places. And today we motivate them to be in the decision making positions," he added.

The SME law calls for establishing a board for small and medium enterprises under the chairmanship of Minister of Economy and representatives of competent authorities as members.

The Cabinet also endorsed the final financial account report of the General Pensions and Social Security Authority for year 2011.

It also approved the extradition agreements between the UAE and India, and the UAE and Pakistan. The two agreements will facilitate the transfer of convicts from these countries to spend the sentence or remainder of the jail term in their home countries with arrangement of transport procedures.

The Council of Ministers endorsed the air transport agreements between: the UAE with Latvia, UAE with Ukraine, UAE with the UK, and UAE with North Ireland. These agreements aim to regulate the aviation services among the parties through regular cargo and passenger flights.

It also endorsed the agreement to set up a joint cooperation committee between the UAE and Mauritania.

Mohammed receives Japan, Belgium and Fiji envoys

Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum received here today at the Presidential Palace, the Ambassadors of Japan, Belgium and Fiji, who called on him on the occasion of the beginning of their tenure in the state.

Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, was also present on the occasion.

Sheikh Mohammed welcomed Yoshihiko Kamo, Ambassador of Japan to UAE, Christian Tanghe, the Belgian Ambassador to the UAE and Robin Nair, the Fijian Ambassador to the UAE and wished them a pleasant stay in the UAE, stressing that they will have all support and assistance from the concerned authorities in the country in order to be able to perform their duties perfectly to serve the joint interests as well as expanding aspects of cooperation between the UAE and their respective countries in all fields.

Also present were Mohammed Abdullah Al Gargawi, Minister for Cabinet Affairs, Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, Reem Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State, Lieutenant General Misbah Rashid Al Fattan Director of the Office of His Highness Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai and Khalifa Saeed Sulaiman, Director General Of Protocol Department.

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