Vision Magazine Online Issue 1

Home Economics
The Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development (ADCED) plays a key role
in helping grow the economy and supporting local businesses. This included
helping to conceive the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030. ADCED’s Deputy
General Manager, Fahad Saeed Al Raqbani provides an insight.
What is ADCED’s mission?
Since our establishment in May 2006, the Abu
Dhabi Council for Economic Development (ADCED)
has sought to facilitate economic diversification and
growth through greater understanding, co-operation
and engagement between the public and private
sectors of Abu Dhabi.
What has ADCED achieved
since it was created?
We have forged strong working relationships with a
number of leading international institutions focusing
on economic development. Our overseas activities are
predominantly focused on conducting benchmarking
studies and promoting the Abu Dhabi Economic
Vision 2030.
We aim to stimulate
economic development
through government
initiatives and thoughtleadership
programmes
Our mission is to develop policy recommendations
and kick-start initiatives to promote sustainable
and diversified economic growth by improving Abu
Dhabi’s infrastructure and business environment
and enhancing human capital. As an advisory body
for both public and private stakeholders, we aim to
stimulate economic development through government
initiatives and thought-leadership programmes.
What do you do to achieve this
mission?
Our Council helps to create networks that connect
public and private sector leaders from government,
business, academia and the community to provide
platforms for debate on economic issues that
contribute to policy design and development.
We also develop public policy recommendations that
support sustainable economic development and Abu
Dhabi’s positioning as an international economic hub.
What has ADCED achieved
since it was created?
ADCED had a key role in the conception of the
Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 and our Council
continues to promote the Vision both locally and
internationally.
In partnership with the Department of Economic
Development (DED), ADCED played an important role
in preparing the draft law for the regulation and coordination
of statistical information in Abu Dhabi.
With the technical support of Statistic Sweden, we
recommended the establishment of the Statistics
Centre Abu Dhabi as an independent entity to handle
the tasks of developing and providing accurate
statistical information across the Emirate.
Another important objective is to promote the
Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 to business and
political leaders. For example, ADCED has been an
active participant in events such as the Abu Dhabi
Investment Forum. With the UPC we are currently
developing our network and relationship with the
World Economic Forum (WEF). Alongside the UPC, we
attended the Annual Meeting of the New Champions
2009 organised by WEF last September in Dalian,
China. ADCED also participated in the World Economic
Forum Annual Meeting in Davos this year. We are
currently developing our relationships with the World
Bank and the IMF.
Other than oil-related
industries, what business
sectors will become most
important to Abu Dhabi?
The energy sector will continue to play an
important role in Abu Dhabi’s economy but at the
same time other sectors are expected to enjoy
positive growth including, petrochemicals, metals,
aviation, pharmaceuticals, tourism, healthcare,
transportation, education, media, financial services
and telecommunication services.
Fahad Saeed Al Raqbani,
Deputy General Manager
ADCED
ISSUE ONE - VISION MAGAZINE 19