Emirates ID, UN sign MoU to develop digital identity projects

Abu Dhabi: The Emirates Identity Authority (Emirates ID) and the United Nations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at bolstering cooperation to develop the infrastructure of the Authority's digital identity projects. It also aims at benefiting from the UAE's experience in developing advanced identity programmes globally. Under the MoU, Emirates ID and the UN agreed to implement joint initiatives and projects in the field of sustainable development and boost knowledge society on the global level through organising international conferences and workshops and conducting specialised researches. The MoU was signed on October 17th 2013 at the UN headquarters in New York in the presence of Dr. Eng. Ali Mohamed Al Khouri, Director General of Emirates ID and Vincenzo Aquaro, Chief of E-Government Branch of the Division for Public Administration and Development Management (DPADM) of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA). In his paper presented on the side-lines of the MoU signing, Dr. Al Khouri reiterated UAE prudent leadership's quest to upgrade efficiency of its government sector and adopt the culture of excellence, pioneering and continuous development in order to boost UAE's global position. He said that the UAE is determined to be one of the best countries in the world according to the UAE Vision 2021 and Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030. Dr. Al Khouri said that the UAE Government has set up a comprehensive and integrated vision aimed to develop the living and service systems of both Emiratis and residents. It is diligently working to establish a sustainable development environment at all levels with people's happiness and public welfare as its utmost priorities. He underscored Emirates ID's keenness to represent the UAE in different international occurrences and increase awareness of its successive achievements and to cooperate with various leading UN organisations in the field of advanced identity, government work development and scientific research. The aim is to build knowledge-based society and economy in the UAE which will contribute in reinforcing UAE's competitiveness and leadership in order to become "Number 1" in all fields. Dr. Al Khouri gave a brief on Emirates ID Strategic Plan 2010-2013 and its new Plan 2014-2016, highlighting a number of projects carried out by the Authority particularly the "Digital Identity" and "e-Link" with government entities. He explained the role the Population Register System plays in supporting decision making. Meanwhile, UN officials commended the UAE's vision and praised its leadership boundless ambitions to develop the quality of living of its people and its quest to pioneer globally in all fields and in the eGovernment Index. The UN officials also hailed Emirates ID's efforts to develop an advanced personal identity management system for people in the UAE, highlighting its experience and achievements that made it a reference for best practices and a motivation for other government entities that shoulder the same responsibilities towards contributing in enhancing security, supporting eGovernment projects and facilitating service provision both in public and private sectors in their societies. Aquaro said: "Emirates ID is an innovative organisation. We, at the UN, are looking forward to building up a leading, successful and fruitful partnership with it" Richard Kerby, Senior Inter-Regional Advisor on e-Government at the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, said: "The partnership between the United Nations and Emirates ID is an opportunity to support the Authority achieve its ambitious goals and for our organisation to disseminate the Authority's experience on global level". According to the MoU, Emirates ID and the UN, represented by its "Economic and Social Affairs" and "Division for Public Administration '&' Development Management", agreed to cooperate in encouraging public governance, administration and services characterised by effectiveness, efficiency, transparency and responsibility, focus on citizens' interests and help improving the transforming towards government eTransactions in the UAE. The two sides reaffirmed their keenness to mutually benefit from each party's technological systems and expertise and help build up the capabilities of eGovernment resources in the UAE, particularly in the fields of Open Governance, Big Data and Social Integration. The UN officials highlighted Emirates ID's publications in the field of scientific research which are available at the UN public library and its Economic and Social Affairs library. The studies have also been published on the UN official website in order to allow researchers and other interested parties to benefit from them in developing and boosting the concepts of smart identity systems and its advanced applications, among other fields. Emirates ID's keen interest to share its scientific and practical accomplishments was also highlighted. Dr. Al Khouri listened to a number of presentations by UN officials on government development and creativity and visited the UN public library in Manhattan where Emirates ID's publications were displayed, showcasing UAE's live experience in several domains and its on-going endeavour to become one of the best countries in the world embodying the UAE Vision 2021 and Abu Dhabi Vision 2030. Emirates ID has recently published its 4th scientific research entitled "Critical Thoughts" which contains a set of scientific and intellectual researches and studies in the field of managing the advanced identity systems, eGovernment and strategic management. The papers were published by a number of international journals during 2012. The extended meeting held on the side-lines of the MoU signing was attended by a number of senior UN officials from the Division for Public Administration '&' Development Management - Economic and Social Affairs Department including Dr. John-Mary Kauzya, Chief of Division for Public Administration '&' Capacity Development, Mary Ofieci, Head of Capacity Development Office, and Richard Kerby, Senior Inter-Regional Advisor on e-Government at the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. – Emirates News Agency, WAM