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Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA), the government authority charged with regulating, coordinating and supervising all aspects of Dubai’s maritime sector, has announced the launch of the Dubai Maritime Cluster Office, which is aimed to help support efforts directed in helping realize the objectives of the Dubai Maritime Sector Strategy (MSS) to make the emirate a leading global maritime hub.
The new office will oversee, implement, and promote MSS as part of its pivotal role. It will specifically facilitate fruitful cooperation and close coordination among relevant government and private agencies as well as local, regional, and international maritime organizations. The launching is a major boost to ongoing efforts to substantially increase the current 5500 maritime companies operating in the city. The newly launched office is set to enhance the local maritime activities further, which hit 12,000 in 2015, in addition to reinforcing the sector’s economic contributions that is valued at AED 14 billion with over 75,000 jobs created, and accelerating the emirate’s transformation into one of the globe’s most important business centers.
H.E. Sultan Bin Sulayem, Chairman of Dubai Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation and Chairman of DMCA, said: “Dubai Maritime Cluster Office is our response to successive significant developments happening within the local maritime community. These positive changes are the result of all tireless efforts to make the industry inclusive, distinguished, and globally competitive under the vision and directions of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. The new office will help lay a solid foundation for Dubai to take on a new leading role as the global economy’s fundamental business center by 2021. This can be achieved through implementation of best international practices in the organization and execution of key management projects in adherence with MSS’s goals. MSS was established to enhance the maritime sector’s contributions to Dubai’s and the rest of the UAE’s comprehensive and sustainable development.”
Strategic Tasks and Responsibilities
Among Dubai Maritime Cluster Office’s tasks and responsibilities include identification and implementation of key performance indicators and other relevant targets; determination of current and emerging challenges; and establishment of effective tools to effectively address concerns. It will help consolidate Dubai’s leading position among top 10 maritime sectors in terms of global competitiveness and attractiveness. The office will oversee the promotion of maritime best practices across various sub-sectors in the maritime cluster in the emirate as part of its goal to catapult Dubai into the ranks of the world’s most important and competitive maritime centers. Further, it will deploy a series of programs and initiatives centered primarily on upgrading the maritime and logistical services, in addition to updating legislations, regulations, and infrastructure and improving the operational processes according to the highest standards of excellence, quality, innovation and maritime safety.
Amer Ali, Executive Director of DMCA, said: “The newly launched office is also an important addition to the efforts aimed towards enhancing the status of the Dubai maritime sector, a fundamental pillar of Dubai Industrial Strategy initiated to establish the emirate as a global platform for industries promoting knowledge, innovation, and sustainability. We look forward to enhancing the office’s operational processes in our bid to position the maritime sector as a vital channel towards economic diversification and a major contributor to Dubai’s industrial and economic development. This is crucial as Dubai continuously takes proactive steps towards a more sustainable economic growth.”
Dubai Maritime Cluster Office will facilitate communication mechanisms and collaboration with internal and external customers by organizing meetings and interactive advisory sessions among departments affiliated with DMCA and other local and global government and private sectors.
Initiative to help establish maritime sector’s future
As part of its responsibilities, Dubai Maritime Cluster Office will monitor the implementation of quality initiatives under the first-of-its-kind MSS launched to increase Dubai maritime sector’s competitiveness and capacity to keep up with the rapid regional and international developments. MSS also aims to achieve a safe, sustainable, and integrated maritime sector in Dubai. The following initiatives will fall under the newly launched office;
•Maritime Advisory Council--integrated safe and sustainable maritime sector
The formation of Maritime Advisory Council comes as a milestone in the process of raising the local maritime cluster state. It falls under the umbrella of the Maritime Sector Strategy, which is the first plan in the history of the Emirate of Dubai based on promotion, development and regulation of the local maritime sector. The Council represents an integrated platform to enhance cooperation and coordination among stakeholders of maritime affairs from the public and private sectors through the strengthening of effective communication channels between senior government officials, experts and managers in most companies involved in maritime and legal affairs, leading to effective solutions to enhance confidence of regional and international investors in local maritime environment and consolidate Dubai's position as a world-class maritime hub.
• Continuous support and communication with the various maritime associations
The Maritime Cluster Office forms the solid foundation for the establishment of a common communication and consultation system with all maritime associations in Dubai with its various specializations to face the challenges and obstacles encountered in their work and to provide strategic policies and solutions to overcome these difficulties. The office is keen on adopting maritime best practices in order to better serve the objectives of the Dubai Maritime Sector Strategy.
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