Mohammed bin Rashid stresses UAE's commitment to sustainable environment

Dubai, Oct 7, 2012 (WAM) - The Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has underlined that the UAE is committed to building a sustainable environment that supports the economic growth. He added that the investment would not only continue in infrastructure projects, but would also include the vital sectors, such as education, healthcare, and promotion of research, development and innovation culture. "Tomorrow may bear for us developments and surprises that cannot be predicted, but looking forward to and reflecting on the broad outlines of reality, we can identify the features of future, and detect the opportunities and challenges that will come. Hence, there is a big responsibility we should not relent to bear", Sheikh Mohammed said. The Vice President said in a preface to "The Business Year: Dubai 2012" edited by Dubai FDI, the foreign investment promotion office at the Department of Economic Development (DED), under a partnership with the International Business Consultancy, that Dubai's strategic location avails more trade and investment opportunities. He underscored that the significance of trade sector and the knowledge driven economy, being the major components for the sustainable development. "Our Green Economy Initiative announced earlier this year invokes our commitment to diversify energy sources and preserve the environment, while bolstering our competitive status to become a leading centre for the export and re-export of green products and technologies," he added. From now to year 2050, Sheikh Mohammad continued, the emerging markets will be the main engine of global economic growth, and trade flows will become more connected as mobility of goods, services and people will become more flexible. He added that the 40 years of hard work and perseverance had seen the UAE scoring many achievements, citing the prosperous economy, which earned the UAE global respect. Regarding the UAE's attitude towards the international economic changes, Sheikh Mohammed said, "the world is currently undergoing a transition, which may have strong influence over this century. This transformation is indicating the centre of economy is shifting from the West to the emerging markets." He added that the UAE is positive about the current global trends as it is aware of the importance of preserving the national identity and traditions amidst its serious attempt to adopt promising opportunities, which future carries for the UAE people. Sheikh Mohammed emphasised that Dubai continues to seizing the economic, cultural and scientific opportunities cherished by the future, indicating that it forges new connections to sustain the growth across this decade and the ones that follow. – Emirates News Agency, WAM