His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, presided over the inaugural meeting of the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council (ETCC) Board of Directors in 2024. H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE minister of Foreign Affairs and vice chair of the ETCC Board of Directors, was also present at the meeting.
During the meeting, the Board of Directors approved a budget of AED6.4 billion ($1.74 billion) for the Nafis program in 2024. Additionally, the 2024 Emiratization targets for the private sector were endorsed, aligning with the directives of the UAE leadership and the strategy of the Council. One of the main goals is to have 36,000 Emirati citizens join the private sector workforce this year.
The meeting, which was held at the Council’s HQ, was attended by Abdulrahman bin Mohamed Al Owais, UAE minister of Health and Prevention; Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, UAE minister of Education; Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, UAE minister of Economy; Shamma bint Sohail bin Faris Al Mazrui, UAE minister of Community Development; Dr. Abdulrahman Abdulmannan Al Awar, UAE minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation; Sarah bint Yousif Al Amiri, UAE minister of State for Public Education and Advanced Technology; Jassem Mohammed Buatabh Al Zaabi, chairman of the Department of Finance- Abu Dhabi; Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, head of Cyber Security for the UAE Government; and Ghannam Butti Al Mazrouei, secretary general of the Emirates Talent Competitiveness Council.
Mansour bin Zayed chairs Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council Board meeting; approves AED6.4 bn in estimated budget for Nafis in 2024#WamNews https://t.co/0JdVPRTNRc pic.twitter.com/tzKQjI1hvR
— WAM English (@WAMNEWS_ENG) March 4, 2024
Read more: MoHRE implements expanded Emiratization targets for SMEs
Review of Council and Nafis program achievements in 2023
The Board of Directors reviewed the significant achievements of the Council and the Nafis program in 2023, with the aim of enhancing citizen participation in the private sector. By the end of 2023, the number of citizens employed in the private sector had reached approximately 92,000, with over 62,000 citizens joining the private sector since the launch of Nafis and remaining employed until the end of 2023.
The Board of Directors commended the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders and private sector companies, which resulted in a substantial increase of 41,800 citizens joining the private sector in 2023. The total amount disbursed to the beneficiaries of the Nafis program by the end of December amounted to AED4.2 billion. Furthermore, the number of partnerships, agreements, and memorandums of understanding signed with strategic partners saw a notable increase, with over 51 agreements established with government, semi-government, and private entities in various economic sectors, including aviation, education, training, health, investment, and industry.
The Board also evaluated the financial and economic impact of the Nafis program, acknowledging the transformative effect it has had on perceptions of Emirati employment in the private sector.
Launch of national platform
The meeting marked the launch of the national platform and featured a presentation by the Cyber Security Council regarding the initial outcomes of the Nafis project’s first phase. The platform itself will function as a centralized hub for national information and data, providing access to pertinent government agencies. This, in turn, will enhance the cohesive system for digital engagement and cooperation among federal, local authorities, and the private sector, empowering them to make meaningful contributions to policy and strategy development.
Through the platform, the Council aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of all initiatives and programs of the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council.
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