People are the key to sustained excellence in a nation’s development, and will continue to be a primary priority for Ras Al Khaimah, HH Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, told the first conference of investors and business leaders in the emirate today.
“It is not the buildings or the roads or the mountains or the beaches that make a country or a city great, rather it is the people,” Sheikh Saud said in the keynote address of the Ras Al Khaimah 2007 conference. “For without people of excellence, people of knowledge and skills, everything else will sooner or later amount to very little.”
The emirate, rapidly emerging as a new and multi-faceted investment destination in the Middle East, will continue to invest in education and health to provide its people and new residents with better facilities, more choices and widespread access to world-class institutions, he added.
HH Sheikh Saud also pledged to drive efficiency and transparency in government processes, simplicity in the business framework and a sustainable and ecologically sound infrastructure, and suggested the emirate’s recent record advances in its water, roads and ports capacity are only the tip of the iceberg.
“We are trying to create the conditions for excellence in every sphere of our operations, the conditions that will make Ras Al Khaimah relevant in the global economy,” HH Sheikh Saud added.
Sheikh Saud also stressed the need for women’s empowerment in the emirate and throughout the nation, drawing attention to the first elected Federal National Council assembling today in Abu Dhabi with its first elected women representatives.
“For any society to develop, we have to have equal opportunity employment and merit-based advancement,” he said. “When a woman is not able to achieve her full potential, it is not her loss – it is our loss as a society.”
The Ras Al Khaimah 2007 conference, organized by the emirate’s Investment and Development Office and regional business magazine MEED, is focused on the current developments and opportunities in the emirate, and its ongoing efforts to diversify its economy.
More than 30 high profile international speakers and over 200 entrepreneurs and business leaders are attending the two-day conference and its specialized sessions on tourism, real estate, free zones, manufacturing, energy and petrochemicals, and other growth sectors.
The conference is supported by Amana, CTC, Metito, Rasmala Investments, RAK Properties, Saraya Islands and Zamil Steel. It continues until the end of Tuesday, February 13, 2007.
The Investment and Development Office, Government of Ras Al Khaimah (IDO)
IDO was established in 2004 by an Emiri Decree with the aim of identifying new investment opportunities and facilitating the task of prospective investors in their goal of embarking on the establishment of new businesses in Ras Al Khaimah. IDO showcases the unique features of Ras Al Khaimah to the prospective investor and ensures that a viable business venture is set up without hindrances. IDO acts as an economic ambassador and facilitator of ideas that will differentiate Ras Al Khaimah from other Emirates and enhance its investment climate. IDO has provided support in the launch of major companies such as RAK Properties, RAK Petroleum, RAK Lube Oil Company, EDRAK and Saraya Islands. IDO is also active in seeking investment opportunities globally whether through new ventures or Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) activities determined by the quality and attractiveness of the assets in different sectors to include industry, tourism and services. Information on the company and its portfolio can be found at www.rakinvest.ae
