The UAE will host the fourth Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit from November 22 to November 27 at the site of Expo 2020 Dubai.
This year's theme is "Rewiring societies: repurposing digitisation for prosperity", with the conference expected to provide a platform for leaders from the global manufacturing and technology sectors to discuss the trends shaping the future of industry.
Co-chaired by the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology and the UN Industrial Development Organisation, or Unido, the conference will be held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.
“We are confident that hosting the summit alongside Expo Dubai will give impetus to this important event,” said Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology.
It will convene leaders and industry experts to discuss and debate the best ways to prepare for the recovery after Covid-19 and determine the role the industrial sector can play to hasten this process, said Dr Al Jaber.
“It is essential to discuss the role of technology in shaping the future of industries and how to take advantage of the opportunities and solutions it presents to address various challenges.”
GMIS, a joint initiative between the UAE and Unido, intends to build bridges between manufacturers, governments, NGOs, innovators and investors to help shape the future of manufacturing and put it at the heart of the recovery.
The first two events were held in Abu Dhabi in March 2017 and in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg in July 2019, with each conference having an attendance of more than 3,000 delegates from more than 40 countries.
The third was initially scheduled for April 2020, alongside the Hannover Messe 2020 trade fair.
However, it was postponed and later held online due to restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Unido’s director general Li Yong said the organisation is “pleased to ... be in a strong partnership with the UAE in our endeavour to promote inclusive and sustainable industrial development”.
The conference will be a “catalyst for transformative ideas” and its partnership with Expo 2020 will enable it to reach a global audience, he said.
“The future of manufacturing must be inclusive, one that leaves no one behind ... a future that creates feasible mechanisms, allowing women, young people, small and medium enterprises and developing countries to claim a fair stake in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” said Mr Li.
GMIS will explore how the latest technology can be harnessed to enhance productivity and create shared value for organisations and society.
