Mohammed opens Government Summit, calls UAE minds to draw lessons from wealth of international expertise and experience

Dubai, Feb 12, 2013 (WAM) - His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, opened yesterday the Government Summit under the theme ''Leading Governments Services'' with a passionate call to young UAE minds take lessons to draw lessons from the informative summit so as to enrich their knowledge international best practices and build their capacities in public administration, management and leadership. Led by the vision of Sheikh Mohammed for the future of Government in the UAE, the Government Summit, organised by the Ministry Of Cabinet Affairs, aims to be a platform for innovation, knowledge sharing, and the strengthening of national efforts towards achieving the goals of UAE Vision 2021. The Government Summit, billed as the largest government gathering in the region and the Arab world, serves as a new platform to develop government work and services and enable the government sector to achieve excellence, which is crucial to achieve Vision 2021. In an insightful keynote address, Sheikh Mohammed said the two-day summit is gathering a galaxy of prominent local, Arab and international experts and leaders from more than 30 countries in addition to more than 2,500 participants from the UAE and sisterly countries with 150 experts presenting their expertise and experiment through 30 panels of discussions. Sheikh Mohammed invited the UAE youth to draw lessons from presentations, workshops and roundtable discussions of the informative summit so as to enrich their knowledge and know-how in latest trends and international best practices in public administration and management, as well as leadership and other areas of interest. In attendance were H. H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Mohammed Ahmed Al Mur, Speaker of Federal National Council (FNC), H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Aviation Authority and Chairman of Emirates Group, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and a crowd of Sheikhs, ministers, senior officials, and VIP guests from Arab and foreign countries. Sheikh Mohammed said those participating in the summit would also benefit from the expertise of ''our State'' in the delivery of distinguished government services. Sheikh Mohammed said the current interaction and integration between the UAE federal and local governments was "not enough," saying '' We want further cooperation and integration to leverage our State and our institutions to the international standards which we aspire to prevail in all fields and sectors, especially the government sectors so that we can provide best services to customers.'' The aim of the summit, he noted, is to achieve welfare for UAE society by upgrading the education system, through providing justice for all, through offering job opportunities for young people and through the development of infrastructure projects. He said ''We are an authority for people, not over people ..... a director in any department has been appointed to assist customers and to facilitate their transactions without delay under any circumstances.'' ''We are taking the course of our founding fathers and the path of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who places the citizen at the top of his priorities....... we built a state and others toppled states... we are confident that we will deliver our Vision for 2021 through the mobilisation of all efforts, in particular those of youth, in all government agencies.'' Sheikh Mohammed then engaged in an interactive session to answer questions raised by delegates and through social platforms. Replying to a question about his insistence to be the best or No. 1, the Vice President, said '' Everyone is after number one because it is the best among all numbers. We have learned our persistence to reach No. 1 from the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and today we are learning from President Khalifa as Abu Dhabi is striving to reach the top in terms of leadership in culture and renewable energy and it's able to deliver that ..... The word ''impossible'' has no place in our lexicon ... this word is only used by the weak and lazy who fear challenges because if a person questions his abilities and confidence, he would lose the compass directions to success and excellence. The Vice President urged young people to do whatever they can to achieve the number one position. ''' I and my people like Number One," he said.' Speaking about his vision for the government of the future in the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed said '' I want a government that toils around the clock to make the citizen feel happy ... a government that is very close to the people and acts like an airline, which welcomes all customers with whom it deals, and like a hotel, which welcomes its guest ....... I want the citizen to be able to process all his government transactions on a one-mobile stop shop.'' While answering a question from a child about Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, Sheikh Mohammed recalled that the designs had envisaged a tower not high than 80 floors. "But I pondered deeply and decided to have the tallest and most wonderful structure in the world, a premier attractive tourist destination. The Dubai Downtown, adjacent to Burj Khalifa, is today attracting thousands of tourists from across the world. The high-rise building was named after President Sheikh Khalifa because such a famous, majestic landmark should be associated with great men. Sheikh Mohammed rejected the idea of serious risks when planning and implementing new mega developments, whether in Dubai or the UAE at large. ''Risk is there in any work a man or state could do and life is fraught with risks and challenges ...... a hard-won success has a special, delicious taste ..... success and excellence are born out of challenges especially when that success is meant for the homeland and its fruit is picked up by the citizen.'' Addressing a question about leadership, Sheikh Mohammed indicated that it is hereditary in some cases but should be developed and sharpened by expertise, practice and learning. Leadership is an art of shrewdness and smartness and not every leader is successful and enjoys the qualities and traits of a leadership of genius, he said.. "A true leader is the one who makes his people happy and strives to serve interests of his nation, preserve national pride and achieve higher national interests.'' Sheikh Mohammed went on to answer a question from an Arab participant about positive energy, saying '' It means to be optimistic about the new day every morning .... he who wakes up smiling will stay throughout his day full of positive energy, strong and ready to overcome challenges with high spirit and resolve.'' About his expectations for government employees, he delivered a message specifically addressed to them, saying " You are the energy and the driving force for any government act and for the spectacular achievement of the State." Asked about the hardships he had faced during the building of the nation, Sheikh Mohammed said that it was his iron will and determination and the groups with whom he worked that had helped him to overcome challenges and difficulties. Talking about the motivation of employees, he noted that the employee should be given the necessary powers to take the right decisions that serve his ministry or department. An employee who is handcuffed by routine and centralisation will achieve nothing, he said, while a high-performing employee should be honoured in front of his fellow employees to promote the culture of positive competition. Sheikh Mohammed also instructed the providers of government services to deliver their services to the elderly people and physically challenged persons at their place of residence across the emirates. Answering a question asked by an Egyptian citizen on how to administer justice among people and how he, and the UAE leadership, won love of the people, Sheikh Mohammed said the question was a valued testimony, of which he is very proud. He wished Egypt peace and stability "because Egypt is the beating heart of the Arab nation." He also praised the role played by the Egyptian community in the progress of the UAE. On his leadership personality, success, vision and love of the people, Sheikh Mohammed said he cherished the love of the people to him. "I earned this following 40 years I spent since childhood accompanying the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum. I learned from them the traditions, values and vision." Sheikh Mohammed said it was important to plan one's daily activity to maintain a balance between duties and personal life. He described the achievements made by the UAE, as great, "but there are more achievements waiting to be made because the cycle of life is going on. Innovation and creativity have no finishing line. We cannot just stop and sit idle without achievements for the next generations." On the secret of positive energy he enjoys, Sheikh Mohammed said: "Everyday, I walk 3 kilometres, sometimes, 10 kilometres and some other times 20 kilometres. Sport is an integral part in my daily life. I exercise all types of sports, including horse riding and other sports that develop both body and mind." Sheikh Mohammed said the government's achievements reached world-class standards, referring to an ongoing improvement in government service delivery. He also said that any change in his government is usually linked to the minister's performance and his/her rate of success in serving people. On winning World Endurance Championship in 2012, Sheikh Mohammed said he was proud of this coveted title which he clinched amid fierce competition by world-renowned riders. "It is determination, perseverance and love of the country," he added. On the role of UAE women in the community and the government, Sheikh Mohammed indicated that 90 percent of government employees are women, while 30 percent of leading positions are occupied by women. Asked about UAE's formula for success, he said: "the secret lies in the love for the country and its soil and in the fact that we all work as a one team." "My brother His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, my brothers Their Highnesses the Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates and I .. and before us, the founding fathers, have a collective stake in the achievements for our country and for our people. The founding fathers laid the foundation and we followed their footsteps. Each citizen also took part in building the country and its institutions and participated in the progress of the UAE. Sheikh Mohammed said the development projects in the UAE are excellent and diverse and serve national economy and the interests of the people. "We plan the projects ahead, we establish their feasibility and we study the local and regional markets to guarantee their success. Another reason for success is the teamwork." Asked about the future of the country in the light of 'Arab spring', Sheikh Mohammed said: "(this) occasion is not political and has nothing to do with politics. Yet, we have to answer the question. I recall predicting once changes in the countries that do not attend to their peoples' economic, political and social needs. I recall urging leaders in these countries to introduce necessary reforms and warning them to either 'change or get changed'." Sheikh Mohammed said during 2012, the UAE received foreign investments from Arab spring and other countries worth Dh 30 billion. On his vision for future development in the Arab countries, Sheikh Mohammed identified a number of success factors, including empowerment, education and nationalisation of human resources. He urged the private sector in the UAE to positively contribute to the Emiratisation process. Sheikh Mohammed said he was very pleased with the UAE national football team, winners of the 21st Gulf Cup championship. Asked by a child on how to become an accomplished horseman, Sheikh Mohammed said: "the horseman should love his country and his people. He should respect them, listen to them, study hard and succeed in reaching personal goals. He should then develop his hobbies and learn horse riding until he becomes an accomplished horseman." Sheikh Mohammed also promised a small girl to fulfil her by visiting her school in any emirate. - Emirates News Agency, WAM