In his inaugural speech at the 3rd Annual Global Entrepreneurial Summit (GES) and the Exhibition at the World Trade Centre in Dubai, Shaikh Mohammed also noted that the UAE is one of the pioneering countries in the world in supporting and encouraging young entrepreneurs.
“The UAE is a centre for creativity and innovation on the regional and global levels and provides the ideal environment. The Arab youth can benefit from this, develop their talents and exploit their energy and use it to serve the goals and objectives of their respective countries,” he said.
The inaugural session was attended by Dubai Crown Prince Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Deputy Ruler Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Foreign Minister Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Deputy Minister of Presidential Affairs Ahmed Juma Al Zaabi, a number of ministers, senior officials and business leaders.
The global event drew more than 2,000 experts and decision-makers in the field of entrepreneurship in addition to small and medium enterprises around the world.
Shaikh Mohammed said that entrepreneurship is not an alien phenomenon for the Arabs. “We invented the alphabets and many branches of science such as Algebra and mathematics. We the Arabs founded the first university in history, from where people of learning graduated in medicine, astronomy and mathematics. TheArab Islamic civilisation is the first one that excelled in the globalisation of culture, science and knowledge,” he said. “In the UAE we overcame poverty and illiteracy because we have confidence in ourselves and in our citizens who have turned the desert into a modern state in the world,” the Vice-President pointed out.
“We are partners with all countries of the world in order to assume our responsibilities to create an attractive environment for creativity, an environment that will attract the young innovators across the Arab nation and the world at large”, Shaikh Mohammed said.
He attributed the steady development of the UAE in the economic and educational fields to the strong resolve adopted by the country’s leadership. “If we look at the recent past, it will remind us of the founders of this modern state, the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the late Shaikh Rashid Al Maktoum, who built the country on the strong foundations,” he said.
After his address, Shaikh Mohammed attended the signing of a number of agreements. He also opened a parallel exhibition, a business platform for SMEs, suppliers to SMEs, SME funds, government agencies, and public and private entities to showcase their products, services, initiatives and achievements in regional SME development, to a cross section audience including investors, channel partners and corporate procurement executives.
