Sharjah meet discusses key role of knowledge economy

Inayat-ur-Rahman

The world economy is changing at an unprecedented rate. The forces of globalisation and technological progress are altering the way that people all over the planet make a living. Some countries, especially in the emerging world, are using this wave of change to drive rapid growth in their economies.

After a very successful first day, the 6th GCC HR & Labor Market Executive Conference kicked off its second day with equally exciting discussions on the knowledge economy and what young people would need and require to get into projects in this sector.

Today’s first plenary session has involved a host of insightful debates on the extent to which young people tend to engage in the knowledge economy and how educational institutions can play a pivotal role by introducing new majors related to digital economy.

The participants also took stock of the current job opportunities available for the youth as well as the needs and requirements they need to engage in the knowledge economy.

The session has brought together Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Dr Sami Bin Abdullah Al-Obaidi, Vice-President of the Federation of GCC Chambers, Chairman of the Council of Saudi Chambers, Dr. Tariq Sultan bin Khadim, Member of Sharjah Executive Council, Chairman of Directorate of Human Resources (DHR), and Mohamed Ali Musabbeh Al Nuaimi, Chairman of Ras al Khaimah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and MD &CEO of Mawarid Finance, as well as Mohammad Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, SCCI’s Director-General.

Inaugurating the session, Al Owais stressed that the digital economy is one of the most important and fast-growing economies on the global scale. The digital economy truly predicts the future of human resources, said Al Owais, highlighting the need to maintain permanent contact with young people with the aim of foreseeing challenges and identifying requirements that help youth find suitable solutions.

Meanwhile, Dr Sami Al-Obaidi said: “Today’s youth are the generation of challenges. The rapid technological developments and the fourth industrial revolution necessitate young people to make every possible effort so as to cope with ongoing transformation. The digital economy has not come to replace manpower, but to create new opportunities for us; so we (as governments) must train, qualify human resources and equip them with necessary skills and knowledge, Al-Obaidi underlined.

For his part, Dr. Tariq bin Khadim stressed that the UAE, thanks to its wise leadership, has early on embarked on foreseeing what our present time would require. To that end, it developed and aligned the policies and strategies with the labour market requirements and offered many relevant training courses.

“And due to the wise vision of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the Emirate of Sharjah has been able to keep abreast of the latest developments in future making sector through its advanced e-government and pursuing digital transformation”, bin Khadim added.

During the session, Mohamed Al Nuaimi stressed that education is not the only way to enter the digital economy sector, but young people must develop their skills and sharpen their creativity, citing the world has seen many successful and influential figures, who established projects related to the digital economy away from university disciplines.

Organized by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) in collaboration with the Secretariat General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Federation of GCC Chambers and Arab Labor Organization, the 6th edition of the GCC HR & Labor Market Executive Conference was inaugurated yesterday (Monday) at the Expo Centre