Shaikh Hamed said streamlining of the administrative procedures would have far reaching impact on economy. He announced that the department has now taken over from the Municipality as the local licence-issuing and regulatory authority.
He said that a total of 41 different licences will be available from the Department's offices from next month, and plan are underway to introduce one-stop concept to integrate trade licensing with the work of other bodies. Together with other developments in e-commerce and e-government, this is the new beginning of Abu Dhabi Online, said the chairman ADED.
He said that Abu Dhabi Economic Department which has taken over the old Department of Planning was now better equipped with the resources and manpower to collect and compile more accurate data on economy.
"Our aim is to facilitate business, not just to regulate it. We also want feedback and suggestions from business community for having client-friendly and user-friendly interaction", he said.
Shaikh Hamed said that business trends and issues can be identified by the private sector which the Department will then take up for providing the necessary policy support.
He also proposed establishment of Abu Dhabi Business Council which will provide a platform for dialogue between the public and private sectors, providing feedback for effective and consensual decision-making besides networking among local and foreign business. "It will also help promote interaction between public and private sector which will open new avenues of business", he said.
"We want to create an atmosphere of trust, confidence, transperency and commitment, in a positive partnership to chart new directions for Abu Dhabi", said Shaikh Hamed.
The Chairman of ADED said trade and investment in Abu Dhabi and the rest of the UAE was becoming more open as the country integrate more closely into the global economy, which has impact on the movement of labour and on technology transfer.
He said that good policy-making comes from a visionary approach to economic, social, or political matters. " With a clear view and commitment, we can use our strengthens to tap opportunities and recognise any weaknesses to be addressed or avoided.”
Since the abolition of the General Industry Corporation and setting up of the General Holding Corporation, the Abu Dhabi Economic Department (ADED) has taken on a much more important role in reshaping the economy of the emirate.
"We are focussing on the privatisation of government-owned companies and on investment in strategic projects, such as in the automobile cluster, together with Volkswagen", he said.
Another important step by ADED has been the formation of Higher Corporation for Specialised Zones, a new milestone, as it wants to march beyond manufacturing into services.
Shaikh Hamed said: "In the new global, knowledge-based economy, with its dependence on information technology, steps like these are vital if we are to deal with growing international competition".
The HCSEZ will be a one-stop-multi-tasked agency looking after the needs of all investors seeking to use Abu Dhabi as an entry point into the UAE, the region and wider global markets. He hinted that the Corporation was working on many exciting developments which would be revealed in due course of time.
"Within this framework of developing emirate's infrastructure and industry, we are working on number of private-public partnerships (PPPs), in which we are keen to see private sector participation", he said.
Autor: Hasseb Haider
Quelle: Khaleej Times, 18.01.2005
