In its capacity as the chair county of the meetings of the
Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the
Gulf, held on Tuesday, 24 December 2019, at the GCC headquarters in
Riyadh.
In his opening speech, the Secretary-General of the Gulf
Cooperation Council, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, the General Secretariat,
hailed the vital role of the GCC statistics centers through providing the data
and information to the decision-makers. He also highlighted the value of
raising awareness on the significance of the statistical work.
The celebrations of the Statistics Day holding a seminar
(Statistics to support Decision-Making and the Future of Statistical
Work).
Mr. Abdullah Nasser Lootah, Director-General of the UAE Federal
Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) and Chairman of the Permanent
Committee of the GCC Statistical Work and the head of the UAE delegation to the
meetings, showcased the leading experiment of the UAE in the field of
statistical work.
Mr. Lootah delivered a speech, in which he said that today’s
meeting celebrates the Gulf Statistics Day, through which we aspire to discuss
the best ways we can all benefit from the data, improve their quality,
facilitate access to them, and direct them to what is beneficial to the
progress and prosperity of our GCC States and the world at large.
He pointed out the importance of statistics, on which
development depends in various fields, and the fate of significant projects or
decisions often depends on the results provided by statistics in a specific
field, noting its importance in the possibility of anticipating the future and
building decisions based on its outputs.
Mr. Lootah cited a statement of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin
Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of
Dubai, on the importance of data. His Highness said: “The higher the quality of
information that the leader relies upon making his decision, the higher the
chances of making a good decision.”
He stressed that this statement demonstrates the UAE wise
leadership’s interest in data and its belief in its importance in supporting
decision-making and shaping the future.
Lootah emphasized: “We in the Emirates, as in the case of the
Arab Gulf states, look to be among the best and most competitive countries in
the world, by keeping pace with changes and developments in the field of
technology, as we have adopted in the statistical work innovative mechanisms
that rely on the use of artificial intelligence and modern technologies. To
process and analyze data and manage big data ».
He concluded his speech by highlighting the fact that data has
become today the wealth of the future and one of the most important
possibilities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, calling for more work to
increase awareness of statistical work, and provide tools for future data to
ensure the fruitful interaction between the data producer and its user.
During the seminar activities, Arif Al Muhairi, Executive
Director of the Dubai Statistics Center, was honored as the distinguished
Emirati Figure in the field of statistical work, for his outstanding efforts in
supporting the national statistical work.
Abdullah Al Suwaidi, Acting Director-General of the Statistics
Center - Abu Dhabi, acknowledged that the “GCC Statistics Day” is an important
initiative. “It is designed to raise awareness about the role of statistics in
providing accurate information on various services, economic, social, and
cultural sectors. It is helping the decision-makers to develop sound policies
set up strategic development plans based on accurate scientific foundations to
raise the standards of living and achieve wealth and prosperity.”
H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Al Qasimi, Head of the Department of
Statistics and Community Development in Sharjah, pointed out that social and
economic development is based on reliable statistical information and
data.
“The statistical work plays an active role in drawing policies
and developing projects. This is what our department does through the
implementation of several statistical projects that are consistent with the development
plans of the Emirate of Sharjah,” Sheikh Mohammed stated.
He underlined: “The rapid growth witnessed by various sectors,
especially as we live in the data age, which requires speed and accuracy in
accessing this data and placing it on the table of the decision-makers.”
Dr. Hajar Al Hubaishi, Executive Director of the Ajman Center
for Statistics and Competitiveness, pointed out that the UAE has achieved a
prestigious global position among all nations. “This is attributed to UAE’s
reliance on the best practices in the field of statistical data collection,
analysis, and utilizing them to achieve sustainable development. These factors
made the UAE a role model among the countries of the region.”
Wealth of Information
In his turn, Hamid Al Shamsi, Secretary-General of the Executive
Council of the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain, shed a spotlight on the importance of
statistical work in building and providing an information wealth “Such a wealth
helps decision-makers and stakeholders from public and private sectors to
support the prosperity and growth of the UAE’s economy and to make it at the
forefront of global economies.”
Ms. Najwa Yaqoub, Executive Director of the Ras Al Khaimah
Center for Statistics and Studies, pointed out the importance of joint Gulf
action, and the essential role that statistics play in supporting
decision-making, developing and following-up on the economic and social
policies at the national and Gulf levels. She stressed that statistical
information and data play a crucial role in supporting sustainable development
processes, which is an essential pillar in the work of the national statistical
centers.
Interest
Dr. Ibrahim Saad, Director of the Fujairah Statistics Center,
said that the statistics sector in the GCC receives excellent care and
attention from the UAE wise leadership with sights set to enhance Gulf
cooperation and integration in the field of statistical information.
He added: “The statistics sector plays an active and
constructive role in drawing up policies and decision-making and contributing
to preparing development plans and projects.”
An innovation Partner
The celebration of the GCC Statistics Day this year came under
the theme of “Statistics is the Partner of Innovation” as it was decided to
mark this day on 24 December each year.
This decision was taken following the Secretary-General of the
Gulf Cooperation Council, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, the General
Secretariat, visit to the headquarters of the Statistical Center of the Gulf
Cooperation Council, in January in 2017; and based on the decision of the
Ministerial Council of the GCC in its 141st session held on 24 November 2016 in
the Manama City of the Kingdom of Bahrain.