Sandooq Al Watan, a national initiative launched by prominent Emirati businessmen to support research projects for the post-oil era, said it has signed an agreement with Azure Media Consultancy.

The move is aimed at supporting national entrepreneurs and tech start-ups and ultimately build a new generation of local companies with global competitiveness, it stated.

The agreement reflects both parties’ commitment to implementing the most cutting-edge technologies as tools to establish a prosperous knowledge-based economy – one that meets the aspirations of the UAE’s leadership, fosters creativity nationwide and helps hone the skills and expertise local talents, remarked Dr Ali Ahmed Al Hosani, Azure’s general manager, after signing the deal with Mohamed Al Qadhi, the general manager of Sandooq Al Watan, at the Fund’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Towers.

"This agreement reflects our commitment to providing all means of support to Sandooq Al Watan," stated Dr Al Hosani.

“We are keen to contribute to the Fund’s objectives by launching high-quality digital platforms that offer a host of services, including strategic consultancy, organising events and generating content for social media and digital marketing platforms,” he added.
 
Dr Al Hosani said Azure's services will also include search engine optimisation, outlining comprehensive marketing strategies, developing smartphone applications and automation.

"Moreover, we seek to offer customer service solutions that create awareness around Sandooq Al Watan and its initiatives and projects across the region,” he stated.

Al Qadhi said: "This agreement serves to advance development efforts and take them to new heights, cementing the UAE’s lead across international competitiveness indexes and establishing the emirate as a primary destination for innovation and the future industry."

Azure will be added to Sandooq Al Watan’s “Early Fund” list, which compiles the names of all contributors – individuals or institutions – who have supported the Fund from its inception until the end of the Year of Giving 2017, he noted.

The initiative seeks to encourage the UAE’s business sector to play their part in achieving Sandooq Al Watan’s 2020 strategy, he added.-TradeArabia News Service