'Global competitiveness is a national responsibility'

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Monday chaired the cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace 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.

Sheikh Mohammed emphasised that strengthening the global competitiveness of UAE is a national responsibility involving the government's efforts at both federal and local levels with the private sector, stressing the need to coordinate these efforts for the benefit of the nation.

During the meeting, the new organisational structure of the "Emirates Competitiveness Council" was approved with Reem Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State, as its head.

Secretary-Generals of the Executive Council in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, will be the members in addition to a representative of the Ruler's Court in each of the emirates of Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah. Director General of the National Statistics Centre and representatives from the Ministries of Finance and Economy will also be members of the council.

The cabinet also approved a federal legislation reorganising the translation profession in the state commensurate with the rapid legal and economic developments locally and in line with regional and international legislation in this area.

According to law, any person involved in intentionally changing the facts in the course of translation and bringing harm to others will be imprisoned for two years.

The meeting also approved a new standard obligating the owners of brands of tobacco to place warning pictures on the packaging of tobacco not less than 50 per cent of the area of the box, and prohibit the use of any words that would reduce the risk of tobacco products.

The cabinet also adopted the budget of the Insurance Authority for 2012 with a total revenues of Dh71 million and total expenses of Dh65m and also adopted the budget of the National Council for Tourism and Antiquities, in addition to the final accounts for a number of independent bodies in the state.

In the context of the ongoing support for the aviation sector in the State, the cabinet approved a set of air services agreements with a number of countries including Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Ecuador, Zambia, Djibouti, Estonia and Kyrgyzstan.

It also approved the state's membership to the "Beijing Agreement " on the suppression of unlawful acts relating to international civil aviation.

Mohammed visits 'Bu Tinah Experience' 

Sheikh Mohammed on Monday visited the 'Bu Tinah Experience' at the Abu Dhabi Corniche which was launched by the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) to drive greater awareness on the importance of conserving the UAE's biodiversity and to support the UAE's bid for the island to become one of the New7Wonders (N7W) of Nature.

Sheikh Mohammed, who was accompanied by 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, in addition to a number of ministers and officials, voted for Bu Tinah to become one of the New7Wonders (N7W) of Nature.

Sheikh Mohammed also called upon the citizens and residents to vote more for Bu Tinah to make it among the Seven Wonders of Nature.

The N7W competition will draw to a close on November 11, 2011. To help keep Bu Tinah's species conserved, people can send an SMS with the word "BuTinah" to 3888, as many times as they like. Supporters around the world can also take less than two minutes to place a vote online on www.butinah.ae.

Mohammed receives US, Tunisia and Columbia envoys  
 
Sheikh Mohammed received in Abu Dhabi on Monday at the Presidential Palace US Ambassador to UAE Michael Corbin, Tunisian Ambassador to UAE Tariq Baltayeb and Columbian Ambassador to UAE Roberto V. Vallejo.

Sheikh Mohammed welcomed the envoys, wishing them success in their tasks in the country.

He stressed the significance of bolstering the cooperation ties and friendship between the UAE and the three countries.

Present were Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of the Cabinet Affairs, Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Reem Ibrahim Al Hashimi, State Minister, Lt. Musbeh Rashid Al Fattan, Director of the Office of Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai and Khalifa Saeed Suleiman, Director General of the Department of Protocol and Hospitality.