DUBAI // A two-day government summit including a question-and-answer session with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, begins in the city today.
The aim is to showcase the achievements of the Government while identifying areas for development. It will host speakers from a number of foreign governments, including the United Kingdom, South Africa, Morocco and Bahrain, as well as sheikhs, government ministers, ambassadors and company chief executives.
The summit will begin with a session moderated by Abdullah Lootah, general secretary of the Emirates Competitive Council, which aims to identify development priorities, before moving on to a discussion on social media, partnerships with the private sector and government innovation.
Also on the agenda for the first day is a session in which Sheikh Mohammed answers questions from the public on the development of the country.
Sheikh Mohammed invited questions on his website in the lead up to the summit. Another session will discuss the factors that allowed Abu Dhabi and Dubai to succeed, improve and develop over the years.
On the second day a ministerial round-table with representatives from the UN will involve ministers from other countries sharing recommendations on effective and efficient government service.
This session will be moderated by Tariq Lootah, undersecretary of the Ministry of State. Speakers will include Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak, Minister of Public Works; Lindiwe Nonceba Sisulu, South Africa's minister of public service and administration; Abdeladim Guerrouj, minister-delegate for public service in Morocco; Mohammed Ali Al Qaed, chief executive of Bahrain's eGovernment authority from Bahrain; and Vincenzo Acquaro, head of eGovernment at the United Nations department of economic and social affairs.
There will also be a question-and-answer session with the Minister of Social Affairs, Mariam Al Roumi, the Minister of Education, Humaid Al Qatami, and the acting Minister of Health, Abdul Rahman Al Owais, who will discuss the accessibility of government services.
Several workshops will take place at the summit, exploring the health and education sectors and services aimed at youth and entrepreneurs.