A strong small and medium enterprises (SME) sector and Emiratisation are key factors that will drive the manufacturing sector in the UAE, reported state news agency Wam, citing a senior official.

"In most countries, the SME sector represents around 70 per cent of the economy. While the sector is growing in the UAE and GCC, it is currently much, much lower," remarked Saif Al Hajeri, the CEO of Tawazun Economic Council & Tawazun Holding, at the recent Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit held in Abu Dhabi.

"A strong SME sector is a must, and the future of manufacturing requires strong SMEs," he added.

Al Hajeri pointed out that manufacturing was an important sector that needed to be ready for what’s after oil. However, there needs to be a shift in skills, he stated.

The manufacturing sector, he said, was relatively new to the UAE, but had been growing rapidly.

He cited recent work with Boeing and Airbus and in the field of laser technology to highlight that technology transfer can bring real benefits to the UAE.

"Technology has to be usable and have an export value. We always think about exports and the sustainability of these technologies," he observed.

"Progress is being made in boosting the SME sector, citing the example of the National Manufacturing Association, which joins Tawazun at trade events and is promoted within Government and large local companies," he noted.

Besides boosting the SME sector, Al Hajeri said more needed to be done to attract Emirati workers into the sector.

"Manufacturing requires capable locals. We need ‘UAE made’ by UAE hands," remarked the top official.

"Bringing in more Emiratis into the sector would create a snowball effect: The more locals you have, the more will come," he said, adding that the intergenerational aspect was also critical.

"The innovators of the future will be the children of the locals, especially women, who are now working in manufacturing," he added.