Business

DUBAI — The Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS) on Tuesday announced the intent to establish the Global Biomedical Industrial Centre, a collaborative legacy initiative that will take shape in the UAE.

The initiative will be implemented in partnership with the UAE  Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).

The initiative sets to advance manufacturing capabilities in the life sciences sector, foster cooperation between governments and biomedical enterprises, and prepare the world to predict and respond to future healthcare threats through a centralised hub of excellence, according to a GMIS statement.

The Global Biomedical Industrial Centre will facilitate collaborative efforts to develop cutting-edge medical products and solutions, facilitate knowledge transfer of life science innovations and capabilities, and promote the adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies to build global resilience in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the statement said.

Inspired by the UAE’s tremendous leadership in curbing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the production of advanced protective equipment and contact tracing initiatives, the “Global Biomedical Industrial Centre” was announced at the fourth edition of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (#GMIS2021) by Omar Al Suwaidi, undersecretary of Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, Badr Al Olama, head of the GMIS Organising Committee, and Bernardo Calzadilla-Sarmiento, UNIDO managing director.

Suwaidi said: “COVID-19 has taught us that leadership, science, technology and scaled-up collaboration can achieve near-miracles. Importantly, the crisis has underlined the importance of a collaborative industrial sector that works alongside partners across public and private sectors to boost productivity and enhance the quality of products, not just in a medical context, but across every sphere.   

“The Global Biomedical Industrial Centre will draw on the UAE’s considerable innovation capabilities, demonstrated during the height of the pandemic when we were able to respond — at speed — by producing vaccines and manufacturing the personal protection equipment so critical for healthcare workers to save lives, regionally and across the globe. The centre embodies the UAE’s position as an emerging R&D hub employing global standards and transitioning to becoming a regional and global centre for manufacturing,” he added.

The Global Biomedical Industrial Centre will position itself as a leading hub to develop effective policy responses to future risks, expand technological and manufacturing capabilities in both developed and developing economies, provide a platform for healthcare data sharing, and mitigate global disparities in access to medical supplies and innovations, the statement said.

In addition, the centre will contribute towards the harmonisation of regulatory policies and standards needed to drive the adoption of technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things and 3D Printing in the healthcare industry, while strengthening collaboration between R&D, technology developers and life sciences enterprises to manufacture vaccines and medical equipment efficiently and competitively.  

Calzadilla-Sarmiento said: ”Manufacturing, both in its digitalised and traditional forms, has shown its value in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic and improving resilience and recovery. From production of personal protective equipment and ventilators to harnessing AI for contact tracing, industry has been crucial to the mitigation of the crisis.

“As we move forward towards the post-pandemic phase, the onus is now on the international community to adopt preventative approaches to future global disruptions, harnessing data and digital capacities, upscaling industrial capabilities and life sciences to avoid crises. UNIDO looks forward to taking the next steps to operationalize the Global Biomedical Industrial Centre, in partnership with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology and GMIS.”

“The launch of this unconventional global initiative represents the outcome and lasting legacy of #GMIS2021 and highlights the summit’s commitment to promoting advanced industrialisation and digital innovation, while contributing to sustainable economic development and wellbeing of societies around the world,” read the statement.

Under the theme “Rewiring Societies: Repurposing Digitalisation for Prosperity”, #GMIS2021 is held at EXPO’s Dubai Exhibition Centre, featuring heads of state and CEOs of some of the largest organisations participating in 30 sessions.

The Global Biomedical Industrial Centre was announced at a press conference ahead of a panel discussion titled, “UNIDO and the Global Health Initiative: Utilising Cyber-Physical Technology to Enhance Pandemic Resilience and Improve Health Outcomes”.

Badr Al Olama, head of the Organising Committee of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation, said: “As the world embraces the digital revolution, we must leverage our combined knowledge, insights and resources to promote sustainable industrial development and tackle the toughest socio-economic challenges. This belief is at the core of the Global Biomedical Industrial Centre, a landmark initiative by GMIS, UNIDO and the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology to develop constructive solutions for future health emergencies and risks.

“The centre is also a clear demonstration of the UAE’s commitment to expanding a digitally powered manufacturing sector, advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and creating an inclusive, just and sustainable global economy.”

Under the theme “Rewiring Societies: Repurposing Digitalisation for Prosperity”, the #GMIS2021 Summit took place on November 22-23 and gathered a cross-section of close to 125 global leaders from the public and private sector.

DUBAI — PwC, the global professional services  firm, and the  HYPERLINK "http://gmisummit.com/" \h Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS) on Monday announced the extension of their long-standing knowledge partnership to explore the role of human-led tech-powered solutions  in shaping the future of work and accelerating digital transformations to chart a sustainable course for future of the industrial sector.

By combining GMIS and PwC’s expertise in thought-leadership and business advisory services, respectively, the partnership will explore the rising importance of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics to create smarter, secure and sustainable supply chains, boost industrial productivity, reduce operating costs, develop hybrid workplaces where humans and robots seamlessly work together and drive sustainability at the very heart of the manufacturing sector, according to a GMIS statement.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), PwC and GMIS will also collaborate on a series of knowledge sharing initiatives, including the launch of white papers, to identify the future skill needs in manufacturing, drive the adoption of the Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies to enable innovative R&D initiatives for sustainable manufacturing in a digital-first industrial landscape.

Anil Khurana, Global Industrial Manufacturing & Automotive Leader of PwC, said: “Companies around the world are embracing disruptive technologies to redefine their work environments, blur the lines between physical and digital worlds and meet their net zero commitment. Meeting sustainability goals is one of the key strategic imperatives for organisations and PwC is committed to helping them harness the power of automated workplaces and agile production systems to unlock the next wave of sustainable industrial innovation. 

“As we join hands with the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit, we look forward to contributing to global discussions on the future of jobs, workplaces, manufacturing systems and technology adoption to help organizations deliver lasting growth.” 

According to  HYPERLINK "https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/industries/industrial-manufacturing/coo-pulse-survey.html?WT.mc_id=CT10-PL102-DM2-TR2-LS4-ND30-TTA9-CN_Manufacturing-COO-Pulse-Sept-2021-InternalComms" PwC COO Pulse Survey of C-level leaders with responsibility for manufacturing operations, more than half (52 per cent) of respondents said that, of all the changes in customer needs and behaviours, the growing demand for sustainable products is having the largest impact on operations.

When asked to prioritise the societal outcomes that business should help deliver, CEOs put the creation of a skilled, educated and adaptable workforce at the top of the list. At the same time, a growing number of CEOs are seeking to boost their organisation’s competitiveness through digital investments in the workforce; 36 per cent aim to focus on productivity through technology and automation, which is more than double the share of CEOs who said the same in 2016. Anecdotally, CEOs in a variety of industries have spoken about their plans to incorporate or expand their use of digital technologies and automation, according to the statement.

Drawing on key global leaders from government, business, and civil society, #GMIS2021 will create important opportunities to explore shifting skill requirements across the industrial sector, and how organisations are redesigning their operations to reap the benefits of technological advances for more sustainable value creation in the future. 

The summit will organise discussions on topics such as increasing digital mobility at work, the latest digital trends driving enhancements across the value chain, how organisations can prepare for the next phase of industrial growth, as well as the future of renewable energy. 

Badr Al Olama, head of the GMIS Organising Committee said: “From factory floors to oil refineries, the industrial sector is undergoing a fundamental transformation in the way it operates due to the advent of disruptive technologies and automation. PwC and GMIS have come together to provide business leaders with insights into the fast-changing technology landscape and help them truly understand the impact of automation on production capabilities, supply chain operations and skill development. As the pace of change continues to accelerate within the manufacturing world, GMIS is delighted to extend its partnership with PwC, a world leader in providing industry-focused advisory services.”

To be held at EXPO’s Dubai Exhibition Centre from November 22-27, #GMIS2021 will highlight how the evolving forms of interactions between and among humans and machines are becoming the leading factors shaping the future of workforce, manufacturing, policymaking, sustainable development and global economies. 

Discussions at the summit will take place across several formats, including presentations, networking events, interviews with industry experts, interactive workshops and panel sessions. #GMIS2021 will host three Global Panorama Sessions exploring the challenges and opportunities facing European and North American manufacturing and the drive toward ‘green’ investments, the different development strategies in Latin America and Southeast Asia and the role of digital connectivity to optimise global integration, as well as how digital technologies can drive prosperity in Africa and the Middle East.  

In addition, the summit will organise side-events and conferences focused on strengthening commercial links and bilateral relations between different countries, harnessing open innovation to solve the world’s toughest socio-economic challenges, as well as strengthening renewable energy generation for a cleaner and more inclusive energy future.

DUBAI — Developing zero-carbon technologies is a global priority for the global manufacturing and industrial sector if nations are to begin repairing the planet from the impact of climate change, according to Saed Al Awadi, CEO of Dubai Industries and Exports.

Awadi delivered these opening remarks as the fourth edition of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (#GMIS2021) officially got underway at the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo 2020 Dubai, according to a GMIS statement.

Addressing an audience of leading industry and manufacturing leaders, Awadi said: “At COP26 we saw that developing zero-carbon tech is vital for the manufacturing sector. The sector must be part of delivering the targets set out in Glasgow.”

Awadi pointed out that the UAE’s industrial and manufacturing sector is successfully tackling the challenge of helping the country reach net zero emissions by 2030, which he said can only be further driven by building a world-class manufacturing sector underpinned by advanced technologies and Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) solutions.

He went on to outline a three-part process for enhancing the performance and efficiency of the sector, saying: “First, we must embrace automation and big data – the tools of the Fourth, and later this decade, the Fifth Industrial Revolution.

“Second, we must develop zero-carbon tech in the industrial sector. And third, we must engage more women and young entrepreneurs in the sector.  They can drive an innovation-first mindset,” he added.

DUBAI — Zimbabwe’s Minister of Industry and Commerce Sekai Nzenza on Tuesday credited access to education for shaping her leadership capabilities, and urged others to look beyond the headline “statistics that often blur, or do not reflect the true reality of African women, leaving out their knowledge, wisdom, and entrepreneurial spirit.”

Nzenza’s remarks came during a panel session on day two of the fourth edition of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (#GMIS2021) on Tuesday.

The summit celebrated female leaders in business and multilateral organisations and emphasised the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in levelling the playing field for gender equality in a future workforce, according to a GMIS statement.

Highlighting the positive impact of technology on increasing women’s inclusion in male-dominated sectors, such as oil and gas, Fatema Al Nuaimi, CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Liquified Natural Gas (ADNOC LNG), said: “Technology is going to play a key role in enabling the integration of more and more women into the LNG sector, which has traditionally had challenging workplace conditions for women to operate in, as we explore remote field operations and integrating AI for automation.”

These industry transformations will require “talent regardless of its background,” she added.

Speaking on emancipating the job market, Chiara Corazza, special representative to the G7 and G20 at the Women’s Forum for the Economy & Society, said: “85% of jobs in 2030 do not exist yet, but STEM education will offer the same opportunities for our young boys and girls, because talent has no gender.”

“There is a leaky pipeline for women talent in STEM,” said Ayumi Moore Aoki, founder and CEO of the global NGO Women in Tech, referring to the lack of women who receive STEM education without entering the STEM workforce, and the subsequent loss of interest in STEM subjects among teenage girls.

She added that women need to be encouraged into leadership from a young age, “from classroom to boardroom, we need to teach women to become leaders”.

For her part, Tiffany Kelly, founder and CEO of Beyond Bamboo, an online marketplace and wholesale platform for sustainable and ethical products, said: “We need to look at a culture change, and move away from the parasitic view of leadership and towards inclusive leadership standards that encourages collaboration and partnership.”

Jan Ward, CEO of industrial parts maker Corrotherm, said: “Ultimately, if you don’t have diversity, you don’t get diversity of creativity and understanding.”

Under the theme “Rewiring Societies: Repurposing Digitalisation for Prosperity”, #GMIS2021 convened key global leaders from government, business and civil society to discuss how data and connectivity are shaping the future of the manufacturing sector while presenting opportunities for investments in technology, innovation and industrialisation, according to the statement.

DUBAI —With a special emphasis on the summit’s host country, a dedicated session at the fourth edition of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (#GMIS2021) explored the role of the UAE’s National Strategy for Industry and Advanced Technology in driving the development of a diversified industrial economy in the country over the next 30 years.

The strategy, “Operation 300Bn”, stems from “an integrated vision of the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) to strengthen the UAE’s industrial sector and establish the country as a global hub for future industries”, read a GMIS statement.

Abdallah Al Shamsi, assistant undersecretary for the Industrial Growth Sector at MoIAT, noted that the UAE is well-placed to diversify its economy.

Speaking at the panel discussion titled “Operation 300Bn: Make it in the Emirates” on the second day of #GMIS2021, he said: “There is a lot we can do within existing sectors to go to the next level to increase value added, and we have the capital, know-how, and comparative advantages to help us develop new sectors.” 

He added that coordinating efforts between government entities and national industrial champions will be a critical success factor in paving the way for industrial growth.

During the session, Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi, CEO of Emirates Steel, said “Operation 300Bn” was an ambitious but important target, and that SMEs were at the heart of the strategy.

He added that public-private partnerships are necessary to bring efficiency to the system and to inject foreign direct investments (FDI) into the economy.

Ahmed Mohamed Al Naqbi, CEO of Emirates Development Bank (EDB), said the bank was adapting to diversification by focusing on accelerating industrial development in the UAE and enabling SMEs to be a core piece of the ecosystem.

He added that EDB was filling gaps by facilitating entrepreneurship and supporting start-ups through initiatives such as this year’s launch of the first digital business bank in partnership with MoIAT. 

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, CEO of Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), said that post-pandemic demand for products was outstripping supply, and that sustainability was top of the company’s agenda and a high priority for customers. SMEs are crucial for Operation 300Bn, he added.

Khaleefa Yousef Al Mheiri, acting CEO of TA’ZIZ, said the chemical sector plays a vital role in diverse manufacturing sectors, and there will be opportunities down the value chain, as most projects will be producing chemicals for the first time.

Saud Abu Al Shawareb, managing director of Dubai Industrial City, spoke about demand in the industrial sector and growth at Dubai Industrial City. Existing and new partners alike are getting support with commercial incentives and government approvals, he said, adding that he looked forward to working with the government to attract more sophisticated, high-end industries, such as mechanical and equipment process line manufacturing and pharma.

Co-chaired by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), #GMIS2021 convened over 250 policymakers and industry leaders from around the world to engage in 70 sessions from November 22 to 27 at Expo’s Dubai Exhibition Centre.

Under the theme “Rewiring Societies: Repurposing Digitalisation for Prosperity”, the summit explored the role of data and connectivity in shaping the future of supply chains, green manufacturing, sustainable energy, climate action, policymaking, and resilient global economies, according to the statement.

DUBAI — As the world begins to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, investors must remain wary of expected inflation and spiking interest rates, said Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Managing Director and Group CEO at Mubadala Investment Company.

Addressing the fourth edition of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (#GMIS2021) on Monday, Mubarak, elaborated on the investment themes of technology, life sciences and the energy transition, according to a GMIS statement.

“From a short-term perspective, there are challenges ahead with inflation creeping in and anticipated interest rate hikes, which will undoubtedly have implications.

“But Mubadala’s approach is that of the long-term, patient investor with convictions and thematic views. This has helped us to weather through difficult cyclical periods that would have challenged others,” said Mubarak, who pointed to Mubadala’s investment in Masdar in 2006 and GlobalFoundries in 2009.

Mubarak added that the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) is now a global renewables player, with investments and assets across 33 countries, representing investments of over $20 billion (Dh73.4 billion) and nearly 11 gigawatts of renewable power generation.

“Fifteen years ago, we had started investing in the renewable energy transition, before it became the popular subject it is today. We are now well-positioned in that sector, empowered with the ability to continue growing at scale,” Mubarak said.

Commenting on the recent virtual summit between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Mubadala’s Chief Executive said: “The world wants and needs continued economic prosperity, and maintaining these open lines are in the best interest of stability.”

“As a global trade and economic hub, the UAE has acted as the transiting point between the East and the West with substantial trade ties on both sides. Global stability is crucial, and only enhances our proposition in terms of trade, business and economic growth,” said Mubarak.

On Mubadala’s strategic partnership with the semiconductor manufacturer GlobalFoundries, Mubarak said that Mubadala had invested in what was a “challenging and competitive” sector, but is now critical to global supply chains and every major future industry.

Co-chaired by the UAE Ministry of Industry Advanced Technology and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, #GMIS2021 will draw on key global leaders from government, business and civil society to discuss and debate how data and connectivity are shaping the future of the manufacturing sector while presenting opportunities for investments in technology, innovation and industrialisation.

#GMIS2021 will be held during the six-day GMIS Week from November 22-27 at EXPO’s Dubai Exhibition Centre, featuring over 250 global speakers.

DUBAI – The United Arab Emirates’ industrial sector received a major boost as the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology announced it will adopt the Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI), the global standard used by the World Economic Forum (WEF) to assess digital developments.

The announcement was made by Undersecretary of UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology Omar Suwaina Al Suwaidi during a keynote speech at the beginning of Day 2 of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS).

He explained that SIRI will provide companies in the UAE with a vital benchmark for their capacity to adopt the tools of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), equip them with frameworks to facilitate integration and highlight the tangible benefits of digital transformation, according to a GMIS statement.

Suwaidi also revealed that the first 70 companies in the UAE’s industrial sector have now been evaluated.

They can look forward to a new era of possibility, equipped with the ability to increase productivity, efficiency, product quality and global competitiveness. The Ministry’s goal, he added, is to assess a total of 200 industrial companies by the end of 2022.

The Index formed a key part of Industry 4.0 programme spearheaded by the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology to accelerate technologies’ advancements across the UAE’s industrial sector.

During his speech, Suwaidi also outlined other initiatives that have been launched in support of this objective, including the Champions 4.0 Network, a group of 12 local and multinational companies that will showcase the benefits of 4IR technologies and offer practical insight and expertise to UAE enterprises.

“The rewards for success are clear: Higher productivity, better product quality, enhanced operational efficiency, reduced energy consumption – all of which can make a substantial contribution to our sustainable development goals,” he said.

DUBAI — United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) President Abdulla Shahid at the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS) on Tuesday in Dubai called on developed countries to invest in climate-friendly technologies while also assisting in the technological advancement of more vulnerable nations.

Speaking at a session titled “Government of the future: A new roadmap to global prosperity”, Shahid highlighted the stark discrepancies in technological capacity between the global north and south, which has exacerbated the challenges faced by developing nations in their attempts to recover from the pandemic, according to a GMIS statement.

In what he described as his “presidency of hope”, the UNGA president said: “I will do my best to ensure that we not only recover fully and sustainably, but we do so equitably with no nation left behind. I call upon countries to invest in climate-friendly technologies that will spur global recovery efforts and to share these technologies with developing countries,” he said.

“The disruption in manufacturing and supply chains was on the horizon before COVID-19 and was mainly driven by the fourth industrial revolution, climate change and the reconfiguration of globalisation. The good news is 4IR technologies are playing a major role when it comes to cutting emissions, water and material consumption and the optimisation of waste management”he said.

In the panel discussion that followed, Prime Minister of Namibia Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila discussed equitable development and the role of technology.

She highlighted the issue of delivering government services in a country of just 2.5 million people and how technology can provide both a solution and a challenge.

“For Namibia, the need to use digital platforms didn’t only come with the COVID-19 pandemic, it was amplified by it because we needed to provide services online after going into lockdown. But because of the large size of Namibia (824,000 sq.km), it is quite expensive to reach out and provide government services to some communities. We had already decided to automate government services to improve government administration”, said Kuugongelwa-Amadhila.

For Matteo Renzi, former prime minister of Italy, the COVID-19 pandemic provided a stress-test for governments and for health systems — and that in many countries in the world, especially those considered liberal democracies, they were found wanting.

“Don’t believe people who say leadership is the same everywhere. With good leadership, you will have very a good response to the pandemic, with bad leadership you risk too much,” Renzi said.

He does see the positives from the last year and a half and acknowledges that technology can emerge as a driver.

“I think it’s important we use new technology with a different approach”, he said.

 “I often joke that my generation uses the mobile as a phone. Then then we arrive with a phone used for pictures, for video, for surfing the internet. The new generation uses the device not with a click, but with a zoom. They enlarge the screen and understand well what has happened,” he continued.

“That’s my final message from this pandemic, we have to pass from click to zoom. Manufacturing 5.0, new technology, these new ideas are the future of my country – and they could be helped by COVID. COVID was a tragedy that destroyed a lot of life, but we could come back stronger than before,” he added.

Finally, Dominique de Villepin, former prime minister of France, touched upon how technology has immense potential for governments, but in Western societies, trust and consensus is a huge component that needs to be respected.

“The citizens in liberal democracies do have a say. And they must be a part of the decision-making process. And that’s where technology must always deal with the question of trust. We cannot impose technology on people without their consent. They need to understand why it is being applied. You need to be able to discuss and convince,” he said.

Under the theme “Rewiring Societies: Repurposing Digitalisation for Prosperity,” the second day of the summit jump-started with success, bringing together key global leaders from government, business, and civil society to discuss how data and connectivity are shaping the future of the manufacturing sector.

GMIS was established in 2015 to build bridges between manufacturers, governments and NGOs, technologists, and investors in harnessing the Fourth Industrial Revolution’s (4IR) transformation of manufacturing to enable the regeneration of the global economy, the statement said.

A joint initiative by the United Arab Emirates and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), GMIS is a global platform that presents stakeholders with an opportunity to shape the future of the manufacturing sector and contribute towards global good by advancing some of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, according to the statement.

ZURICH — Swiss commodities trading group Glencore said on Monday that it would suspend a zinc sulfide production line in Italy due to soaring energy prices.

Glencore unit Portovesme said the line would be placed on "care and maintenance" by the end of December and "until such time that there's a meaningful change in power market prices".

The move affects an operation that produces 100,000 tonnes of zinc sulfide per year.

"This decision has been taken due to high power prices experienced in Italy and the rest of Europe since earlier this year," Portovesme said in a statement.

Energy prices have soared across Europe, raising concerns for industries that need high amounts of electricity and for consumers who could see huge utility bills in the coming winter.

Portovesme said that as an energy-intensive industry, it is "highly dependent on competitive and stable electricity prices".

Zinc prices jumped by more than three per cent to $3,337.50 per tonne following the announcement.

Zinc sulfide is used for X-ray screens or as a pigment for paints.