Dubai Customs’ “We Innovate Happiness” panel forums opened yesterday (Monday 21 November ) at DC headquarters in parallel with UAE Innovation Week 2016 activities.
The opening panel was attended by Saeed Al Tayer, Executive Director of Policies and Legislation Division at DC, Ahmed Abdul Salam Kazim, Director of Strategy and Corporate Excellence, alongside leading experts and government officials concerned with innovation.
The “We Innovate Happiness” forums were declared open by Abdul Salam Kazim, who emphasised that innovation experience of UAE in general and Dubai in particular is characterised by the government sector’s leading role in thinking out of the box and developing impactful innovations.
“Our national innovation experience began twenty years ago with business process documentation and reform leading to ISO certifications. Then we moved on to the stage of strategic planning and building synergies among government partners to implement the strategic plans, ” said Kazim.
The main objective of innovation today, as directed by the wise leadership, is to meet the goals of UAE Vision 2021 and Dubai Plan 2021, which envision the future and set the building blocks for a successful transformation to knowledge-based economy and post-oil phase, he added.
The first panel session of the forums discussed “Government Innovation Schemes”. Muna Al Wadah, Director, Government Services Development, Prime Minster’s Office, presented “My Gov” the UAE Federal Feedback Gateway and the benefits of the suggestions system towards improving the national innovation experience.
Hadi Ibrahim, project manager, Dubai’ The Model Center, talked about the evolution of innovation systems in Dubai and future plans for development. Afterwards, Hussain Fardan, manger, DC Innovation Center, discussed the integrated creative environment put in place by Dubai Customs to nurture a culture of innovation and creativity among employees.
Meanwhile, other DC activities making UAE Innovation Week 2016 are running in the headquarters and customs centers as well as in other parts of Dubai. The main highlights are the ongoing Innovation Campaign at airports and the Innovation Exhibition launched yesterday at DC head office which showcases some cutting-edge innovations and inventions created by innovators from within and outside Dubai Customs.