DUBAI, Agile Nations, a network of countries set up to foster cooperation on innovative regulatory practice between governments, has selected the UAE to lead the network until 2023.
Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Government Development and The Future, has been confirmed as the Chair of network for a term lasting from April 2022 to March 2023.
Comprised of seven countries, including the UAE, UK, Canada, Denmark, Italy, Singapore, and Japan, Agile Nations was established by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in partnership with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in November 2020. Agile Nations is an international cooperation network focusing on the development of creative solutions for government regulatory practices and proposes mechanisms to consolidate government flexibility and readiness for the future in various areas of administration and government work.
The Agile Nations network aims to enhance innovation, flexibility and future readiness in government work, and to develop a system of future opportunities, utilising tech-driven solutions and the Fourth Industrial Revolution’s tools and technologies, to strengthen global efforts to find solutions to challenges and develop flexible and innovative government models.
The World Economic Forum, in cooperation with the OECD, seeks to motivate governments globally to share strategic plans and future visions to enhance innovation, and to discuss the qualitative opportunities offered by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, including new mechanisms and innovative work tools in the government work system.
Ohood Al Roumi said, “The UAE Government, under the direction of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, leads global efforts to enhance international cooperation to improve the resilience and readiness of governments for the future.”
Minister Al Roumi noted that building future of governments requires the development of working models based on flexible governance, innovation, and readiness, reiterating the UAE leadership’s vision on leveraging global partnerships with countries and international organisations to advance the development process. She added that UAE’s position within the Agile Nations network is a testament to its commitment to promoting international action aimed at supporting the efforts of governments in designing innovative models for future government action that will positively reflect on societies.
“Flexibility and readiness for the future are two main pillars for the new generation of governments, which are being strengthened by stimulating innovation and partnerships with entrepreneurs and technological and innovative companies. These partnerships enhance governments’ ability to keep pace with changes and enable them to develop, test and apply innovative solutions.
“The network will develop principles and criteria for efficient and effective decision-making processes based on innovation and solutions of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which will contribute to building the capacities of governments in preparing and designing flexible and proactive legislation that enables them to adapt to the challenges and changes of the future,” Minister Al Roumi added.
Three Priorities The UAE Government participated in the meeting of the Permanent Council of Agile Nations in February, where Huda Al Hashimi, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Affairs, outlined three priority areas for the UAE. They comprised a number of proposals that included the establishment of a platform for exchanging knowledge between member states and the international community. The proposals also encourage member states to innovate and develop new policies and flexible regulations to support the new economy, focusing on digital assets and financial transaction technology, in a way that promotes the launch of innovative projects in emerging economic fields.
The UAE proposed devising platforms to simulate and test new regulations before scaling them globally, as well as exploring policies, agile regulations, and greater private sector engagement to govern the use of Metaverse concepts and enhance engagement with global tech businesses to anticipate future requirements.
Ohood Al Roumi signed the Agile Nations charter on behalf of the UAE, which joined the network in December 2020. Signatories from other member states include Paola Pisano, Minister of Technological Innovation and Digitalisation in Italy; Low Yen Ling, Minister of State for Trade and Industry of Singapore; Amanda Solloway, Under-Secretary of State for Science, Research and Innovation; Munekiyo Kouichi, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan; Jean-Yves Duclos, President of the Treasury Board of Canada; and Catherine Winding, Director General of the Danish Business Authority.
The charter aims to enable world governments to identify future opportunities to develop models for laws and an integrated legislative system, by managing innovations that accelerate economic growth and finding solutions to societal and environmental challenges. It also seeks to support emerging and technological companies and innovative projects to participate in the development of laws and procedures for participating governments.
Source: Emirates News Agency