In the future, everyone will be an entrepreneur – be they doctors, accountants, or anything else – because entrepreneurship is a key component of the future, said Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, UAE’s Minister of Cabinet Affairs. 

 

He was delivering a keynote speech titled ‘Opportunities and Values in the Next 50 Years’ as part of the Mohamed Bin Zayed Majlis for Future Generations titled ‘New Opportunities’.

 

The virtual third edition of the Majlis took place on March 14 under the theme Thriving in the Next Normal, where discussions shed light on future opportunities, outlining the role the youth can play in the UAE’s plans to drive sustainable development, which, in turn, would require working to expand young people’s skills and empowering them to be the architects and leaders of the future.

 

Al Gergawi said: “The UAE began 50 years ago as a nation of dreamers who trusted the vision of our leadership and our Founding Fathers. We believed that our country deserves the best, and we worked day and night to get the UAE to where it is today on the international stage.”

 

“We live in a time when we must all work to create our own opportunities. We must master the ability to forecast the future and its transformations, and then imagine and create opportunities that we can benefit from in the present,” Al Gergawi explained. “The progress we will see in the next 50 years will…dwarf the progress humanity has made over hundreds of thousands of years. The knowledge we accumulated in the past two years alone is equivalent to knowledge produced by all of humankind since the dawn of human civilisation.”

 

“The reality we live in today is different and offers tremendous opportunities, but the most important factor remains the youth’s ability to imagine these opportunities, anticipate their effectiveness, and implement them on the ground,” He asserted. “There will be new sectors with jobs that don’t exist yet, therefore it is imperative that young people develop a flexible mindset and knowledge-based skills such as programming or entrepreneurship.”

 

“Our role as governments is to provide a suitable work environment in which laws and legislations are in place, guaranteeing equal opportunities. The most important role for the youth is to seize these opportunities.”

 

“The UAE youth’s dedication, their loyalty and love for our country, and their devotion to be the best motivation to strive for a bright future,” he reaffirmed.

 

Greener, Smarter, Stronger 

A session titled ‘Greener, Smarter, Stronger’ explored the great opportunity that the UAE’s Golden Jubilee brings to encourage UAE youth to imagine a future that is more sustainable, smarter, and more inclusive, with Ali Alshimmari, National Expert Program participant and Offshore Construction Manager at the National Petroleum Construction Company, moderating the discussion. 

 

Speaking at the session, Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Minister of Community Development, emphasised that inclusivity is the driving force behind her approach to working with her team, where comprehensive development and the creation of happy families are the essential goals driving efforts to ensure a society where no one is left behind.

 

Buhumaid went on to outline some of the ministry’s priorities, citing “the creation of happy families” as an important one. “The government spends more than AED177 million every year on marriage funds and grants given directly to newlyweds or couples about to get married,” she noted. “It’s not only about money; we also want to ensure that they are equipped with knowledge about married life. This is to ensure the sustainability of our future generations and to ensure that we are not just creating families, but creating happy, sustainable generations for the future.”

 

“Another huge area where we work is People of Determination,” she continued. “People of determination is not a segment of the community that is left alone or dealt with separately. It is a segment that is already embedded in all government initiatives.”

 

An Engine Driving Youth Efforts

Speaking at the same session, Mariam Almheiri, Minister of State for Food and Water Security, asserted: “We need to be ready to build more resilient food systems. And this is what the youth should know, that just because we are secure now doesn’t mean we have to stop here. We need to continue our work, and the work we have ahead of us in the next 50 years will be more tech-based and more exciting. We are no longer looking for farmers, but rather for agri-technologists. We are looking for a new generation of youth who think of sustainability and…resources to ensure that we have enough food for all in the future.”

 

“I always encourage the youth to do what they’re passionate about, because that will make it much easier for them to overcome the hurdles that come their way,” H.E. added. “We need to commit to what we believe in. It is important for youth to listen and grasp what they hear to unleash their creativity and stimulate analytical thinking…We are blessed here in the UAE that our leadership inspires us to dream, so I encourage everyone to dream, and dream big.”  -TradeArabia News Service