EXPO 2020 – Site Title

The True Meaning of IFZA Partnership

Words such as “collaboration”, “partnering” and “leverage” are words often used in business.Collaborate is to join forces, to make something better or stronger than it was before. The age-old adage that everyone needs to play to their strengths really works. That’s the point of collaborating.

When joining forces with IFZA, business service providers can offer their clients the top choice of Free Zones in Dubai, one of the most sought-after locations in the UAE.

Partnering signifies a relationship of equals. Equals are not necessarily good at the same things. Indeed, a partnership is stronger if two parties join forces, and each do what they do. Whoever is on the receiving end of a partnership benefits from a wider network, skillset and competence offered through the partnership.

Leverage, on the other hand, is often used in the context of making something stronger or better. Through collaborating with partners, we gain market advantage by leveraging our combined network of expertise.Which brings us to partnering with International Free Zone Authority (IFZA). When joining forces with IFZA, business service providers can offer their clients the top choice of Free Zones in Dubai, one of the most sought-after locations in the UAE.

If you are a business formation specialist, law firm, accounting firm, or corporate service provider, IFZA offers you a unique opportunity

The complete package

If you are a business formation specialist, law firm, accounting firm, or corporate service provider, IFZA offers you a unique opportunity to grow your business in the UAE as a member of the global network of IFZA Professional Partners.

In addition to providing Partners a world of B2B advantages and dedicated business support, IFZA also provides knowledge and competence development through the IFZA Academy, the region’s first and only learning institution for the Free Zone industry, and exclusive access to a calendar of elite networking and social events.

For a limited time, new IFZA Professional Partners also get an opportunity to avail a bonus reward of up to AED 10,000 (subject to terms and conditions) to get your new venture going.

To join our extensive global business community, become a new IFZA Professional Partner in three easy steps:

Contact IFZA.
Request and sign the Authorized Partner Agreement.
Submit a copy of your Trade License, or its equivalent in your jurisdiction.
Whether you want to partner, collaborate, leverage, or be part of a world-class team, IFZA invites you to get in touch.

The ChangeMakers Monitoring

ameerul.hasan@thechangemakers.news

Middle East Energy 2022 to open next week in Dubai.

Dubai, UAE – 3 March 2022: Policymakers, business leaders, and industry experts from the energy industry will converge on Dubai next week to participate in Middle East Energy, formerly Middle East Electricity, when the MENA region’s most reputable and comprehensive event for the energy sector returns to Dubai.

The event will be held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and is hosted by the UAE Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure

Taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre, from Monday 7 March until Wednesday 9 March, under the show theme of Guiding you through the energy transition, the event will provide a platform for the global energy industry to discover new products and the latest energy innovations, do business with exhibitors from around the world and provide the opportunity to hear from experts on developing a diverse, digitised and sustainable future.

Focusing on five key sectors – Transmission & Distribution, Smart Solutions; Renewable & Clean Energies; Backup Generators & Critical Power; and Energy Consumption & Management – the event will provide a platform for understanding more about energy alternatives and solutions including digitalisation, solar, wind, and hydro energy solutions, among others.

Azzan Mohammed, Exhibition Director, Global Energy & Utilities Forum and Middle East Energy, said: “Middle East Energy has a fundamental role in supporting the global energy community adjust its sustainable strategies as we look to the future and reassess the way we use, produce and consume energy. We want to provide a platform whereby the challenges and opportunities of the energy transition can be discussed in detail and where solutions and new technology can be showcased to achieve this global goal.

Over 18,000 attendees and 500 exhibitors from 131 countries are expected during the three-day energy showcase

“This year, we have seen a surge in demand from both buyers and exhibitors eager to meet in-person to learn more about the products changing the face of the energy landscape and hear insights from leaders within the field.”

Held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Middle East Energy is hosted by the UAE Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure, where five Ministry officials are confirmed to speak. They include H.E. Yousif Al Ali, Assistant Undersecretary for Electricity, Water and Future Energy Sector, Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure, UAE; H.E. Aisha Al Abdooli, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Green Development & Climate Change, Ministry of Climate Change & Environment, UAE; Eng. Iqbal Altayer, Director – Technical Supervision (Power & Alternate Energy) Ministry of Electricity & Water, Kuwait; Andrea Di Gregorio, Executive Director – Energy Efficiency & Renewables, Ras Al Khaimah Municipality; and Eng. Nawal Yousif Ibrahim Al-Hanaee, Director of Future Energy Department, Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, UAE.

The esteemed speakers will all be participating in the Global Energy & Utilities Forum, which will provide a platform for industry experts to discuss thought leadership, collaboration, and solutions for meeting the energy shift within the sector through a series of high-level strategic panels, technical sessions, roundtable discussions and workshops.

The focus of discussion will be on developing a roadmap to decarbonisation, an insight into the energy systems of the future, the green hydrogen opportunities in the MENA region, funding of the energy transition, the rise of sustainable finance, powering the African continent with renewable energy, grids of the future, energy efficiency focus and decarbonising industries.

Middle East Energy returns to a live, in-person format from 7-9 March at the Dubai World Trade Centre

Other conferences taking place during the event include the Intersolar Middle East Conference and the Technical Hub, where visitors will learn more about industry best practices across key pillars of the energy sector, including Digitalisation & Smart Grids, Renewables, Green Hydrogen, and Energy Storage, and photovoltaics, PV production technologies and solar thermal technologies.

The event has also witnessed an uptick in international participation, with a 40% growth in visitors from Saudi Arabia rounding out the top three international visitor destinations, including Nigeria and Egypt. Other countries represented include France, Germany, Italy, China, the United Kingdom and the US. From the MENA region, Algeria, Morocco, Kenya, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan will all be represented.

Within the five product sectors, a range of companies will be showcasing their latest innovations and cutting-edge technologies. EODev, the company responsible for developing and industrialising sustainable, reliable and affordable hydrogen-based energy solutions, will be showcasing the EODev GEH2®, a hydrogen fuel cell power generator designed to replace diesel or gas gensets in both mobile, prime, and emergency standby applications. This cutting-edge generator is completely zero-emission, only rejecting water and heat as by-products.

Meanwhile, Cummins Generator Technologies will be at Middle East Energy to discuss the world-renowned STAMFORD® S-Range and AvK® alternator ranges. They will showcase the versatile STAMFORD® S-Range alternators, upgraded with the latest features and technology, including the recently launched extension of the STAMFORD® S7 with new enhanced options, including water-cooling and extended ratings.

This year’s event sponsors include Perkins, Baudouin, Newage Stamford AVK, and Riello UPS.

As part of Informa’s commitment to providing the highest hygiene and safety levels, the event will again take place under the protocols introduced via the company’s Informa AllSecure health and safety mandate. The event will be at 100% capacity as per the recent rule changes by the UAE Government.

To see why energy professionals, EPC contractors and distributors have been visiting Middle East Energy for almost half a century, find out more about Middle East Energy here.

Please click on the following link to register for the event, https://www.middleeast-energy.com/en/home.html.

ameerul.hasan@thechangemakers.news

‘Food for Thought’ on tackling global challenges from ChangeMakers at Expo 2020 Dubai’s

DUBAI, 22 February 2022 – Future food practices have to change to tackle the global challenges brought on by fewer resources and growing populations worldwide, panelists highlighted today (22 February) at the World Majlis: Food For Thought session held at the Italy Pavilion.

Thought-leaders, visionaries and change-makers explored how eating in the future will be a matter of balancing culture and innovation.

Thought-leaders, visionaries and change-makers explored how eating in the future will be a matter of balancing culture and innovation. The panel came together as part of Expo 2020 Dubai’s Food, Agriculture & Livelihoods Week to exchange ideas on how to address the challenge of exploring new food to feed another two billion people in the future within the limits of our planet.

There is no doubt that what we eat will be drastically different in the future, according to Michelle Colgrave, Professor of Food and Agricultural Proteomics at Australia’s Edith Cowan University, who said: “Plant-based proteins are now really entering the mainstream. We are starting to explore the biodiversity that exists globally. We are thinking about how we can utilize things like insects, for example, which are incredibly diverse and incredibly efficient at taking things like food waste and upcycling it into new products like protein. They are enriched with vitamins and minerals, iron and other things that we really need.”

Michelle Colgrave, Professor of Food and Agricultural Proteomics at Australia’s Edith Cowan University, who said: “Plant-based proteins are now really entering the mainstream.

We must use technology and the resources we have available today to make more conscious choices when it comes to the food we produce and consume, chef and restaurateur Coco Reinarhz highlighted, adding that our ability to find more sustainable food systems will affect the way we eat in the future.

Future food production systems must be sensible and invest in nature, so that they are not only sustainable, but also innovative, Dr Brent Clothier, Principal Scientist with New Zealand’s Plant and Food Research Institute, suggested.

Food, Agriculture & Livelihoods Week, which runs until tomorrow (23 February), is focusing on creating food systems for the future that are more productive, more inclusive of poor and marginalised populations, environmentally sustainable and resilient, as well as delivering healthy and nutritious diets for all.

Future food production systems must be sensible and invest in nature, so that they are not only sustainable, but also innovative, Dr Brent Clothier, Principal Scientist with New Zealand’s Plant and Food Research Institute.

However, in his opening remarks, His Excellency Senator Stefano Patuanelli, Italy’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Policies, pointed out that when looking for solutions to global concerns – such as starvation, nutrition, obesity, food security and self-sufficiency – it is important we do not lose the culture and traditions that food represents.

HE Senator Stefano Patuanelli said: “Food is about culture, a sense of community and tradition. We have to think about climate change and we have to think about consuming less resources. Through this journey [towards better food systems], we must keep the gastronomic traditions of cultures and countries alive.”

The week is the ninth of 10 Theme Weeks held throughout the six months of Expo 2020 Dubai as part of the Programme for People and Planet. The programme aims to serve as a platform for the exchange of inspiring new perspectives to address the greatest challenges and opportunities of our time.

ameerul.hasan@thechangemakers.news

Solutions to increasing food production lie in tech, say experts at Expo 2020 Dubai panel sessions

DUBAI, 22 February 2022 – Technological innovations and forward-looking strategies are leading the way in the quest to address major challenges of global food systems, as the world attempts to feed an additional two billion people by 2050, experts stressed on Monday, 21 February at Expo 2020 Dubai.

Technological innovations and forward-looking strategies are leading the way in the quest to address major challenges of global food systems, as the world attempts to feed an additional two billion people by 2050.

It is estimated that global food production will need to increase by up to 70 per cent in the next 30 years, and implementing innovative ideas is the solution to achieving food security. At the World Majlis’s ‘Farms of the Future’ panel at the Australia Pavilion on 17 February, scientists and academics discussed the effects of climate change, intensive farming, loss of arable land and water purity leading to diminished food production, and spoke about unconventional farming and high-tech solutions to increase productivity and food-production volumes with robotic systems.

Prof Dr Vesna Bengin, Co-Founder and Scientific Advisor, BioSense Institute, said: “The agricultural knowledge that we have today, what we plant, irrigate, fertilise, is the result of hundreds of years of experience, of our grandfathers and people who grew crops in certain locations and acquired this knowledge. Now due to climate change, what we do know we cannot apply or actually do apply, but the results are not optimal.

“One alternative would be to wait for the next 200 years and get a new experience and learn how to do it. That’s obviously not an option. So the best thing we can offer today is digital technologies, sensors and artificial intelligence, to quickly come up with the new recipes on what should be done and where.”

A scalable artificial intelligence farming system that uses renewable energy for year-round farming with 60 percent less water resulted in 30 per cent better yield.

At the ‘Tech For Tomorrow’ sessions at Dubai Exhibition Centre on Monday, 22 February, innovators and stakeholders shared ideas and presented case studies and disruptive technologies that could contribute to bolstering global food production.

Alanoud Al Hashmi, CEO, The Futurist Company, spoke about finding solutions aided by data and space technology. Integrating technologies imaginatively in a solar-powered capsule, GAIA, a scalable artificial intelligence farming system that uses renewable energy for year-round farming with 60 percent less water resulted in 30 per cent better yield.

For Jason Schrier, Market Solutions Manager, Livestock Improvement Corporation efficiency, productivity and sustainability were the key focus points of agri-tech solutions in the livestock sector, where Satellite Pasture And Cover Evaluation (SPACE) provides information on managing land and rotational grazing systems.

David Davies, CEO, AgUnity, stressed the importance of technology and connectivity for low-income farmers as a tool for improving efficiency in food production: “There are half a billion smallholder farmers in the world and they support an ecosystem of 3.1 billion people. We work with these farmers across 12 countries – most of them are operating between 20 and 50 per cent efficiency. So in order to solve the world food shortage problem, increase their efficiency and decrease wastage, we need to enable them by creating and introducing mobile platforms that will help them to grow.”

David Davies, CEO, AgUnity, stressed the importance of technology and connectivity for low-income farmers as a tool for improving efficiency in food production: “There are half a billion smallholder farmers in the world and they support an ecosystem of 3.1 billion people.

Innovators from Estonia, Hungary and the Republic of Korea presented the merits of indoor smart gardens, shorter supply chains, vertical farming, recipes for crop development and the use of drones for efficient water use and pesticide spraying, resulting in zero waste and increased food productivity.

The sessions formed part of Expo 2020 Dubai’s Food, Agriculture & Livelihoods Week, which runs until 23 February. It is the ninth of 10 Theme Weeks held throughout the six months of Expo 2020 Dubai, forming a key part of the Programme for People and Planet, an exchange of inspiring new perspectives to address the greatest challenges and opportunities of our time.

ameerul.hasan@thechangemakers.news

India and UAE sign the historic CEPA aimed at boosting goods trade to US$ 100 billion over next five years

India and UAE signed the historic Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) aimed at boosting the merchandise trade between the two countries to US$ 100 billion over next five years. The deal was signed during the virtual summit meeting between Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi and H.E. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

India and UAE are natural partners with many complementarities, says Shri Piyush Goyal
India- UAE CEPA sees many firsts including automatic authorization for Indian pharma products, strict rules of origin and safeguard mechanism against surge in imports.

Shri Goyal emphasized that the Agreement was not an interim arrangement but a complete and comprehensive economic partnership finalized in the shortest possible time in history. He said that the agreement covered the widest possible array of subjects from free trade to digital economy to government procurement and several other strategic areas of mutual interest. He complemented the teams on both sides for their commitment and their dedication and for successfully concluding one of the most balanced, fair and equitable agreements in just 88 days, working in a spirit of brotherhood and friendship understanding each other’s sensitivities.

Emphasizing that CEPA would generate 10 lakh jobs across multiple labour-intensive sectors, the Minister said that major sectors like gems and jewellery, textiles, leather, footwear, furniture, agriculture and food products, plastics, engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, sports goods etc. will benefit from this deal and create large scale, employment for our young boys & girls.

CEPA to generate 10 lakh jobs across labour-intensive sectors such as Textiles, Gems & Jewellery, Leather, Footwear, Pharma, Agriculture products, Medical Devices, Plastics, Sports Goods and Automobiles

Shri Goyal said that there were many firsts in the CEPA agreement. He said that UAE had agreed to automatic registration and market authorization for Indian medicines in case of their regulatory approval in developed countries such as USA, EU, UK and Japan. The Commerce & Industry Minister added that the agreement also had a permanent safeguard mechanism which can be resorted to in a situation of sudden surge in imports along with strict rules of origin, which will prevent products from other countries through the CEPA route.

Addressing the gathering, H. E. Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy (UAE) termed it as a momentous new chapter in the shared history between the two nations. He added that the India-UAE CEPA is a milestone in the relationship between India and UAE and has been built on decades of enterprise and aspires to establish a new era of progress and prosperity for the people of both nations.

He highlighted the long standing cultural and economic relationship between the two nations and said that India was the first nation UAE chose to partner with in the post pandemic world. Speaking on the occasion, H.E Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade also expressed his appreciation to the teams from both sides for the early conclusion of the CEPA. He added that if our investors, entrepreneurs and businesses engage with each other with a sense of purpose, there is no limit to what can be achieved.

H. E. Touq Al Marri , Minister of Economy (UAE) terms the CEPA as a momentous new chapter in the shared history between the two nations

Several other agreements were also signed today between the two nations, including an MoU between APEDA and DP World & Al Dahra on the UAE side regarding “Food Security Corridor Initiative” and an MoU between GIFT city (IFSCA) and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).

Source : PIB India

#India #UAE #FreeTrade #FTA #FreeTradeAgreement #Trade #Economy #Commerce #Goods #Services #BusinessNews #TheChangeMakers #Dubai

ameerul.hasan@thechangemakers.news

World’s only Love Vault is transported to Expo 2020 Dubai on Valentine’s Day to celebrate love that lasts forever

DUBAI, 14 February 2022 – Visitors to Expo 2020 Dubai can celebrate Valentine’s Day in a truly special way by eternalising their love in one of the 100 love boxes at the Slovakia Pavilion.

The mastermind of Igor Brossman, co-founder and CEO of the Slovak Bank of Love – the only Love Vault in the world – it is located in Banská Štiavnica

The mastermind of Igor Brossman, co-founder and CEO of the Slovak Bank of Love – the only Love Vault in the world – it is located in Banská Štiavnica, a town inside the old huge volcano, which is a UNESCO world heritage site. Having opened its doors to the public on Valentine’s Day in 2018, it currently contains 100,000 love boxes – with 100 of the empty boxes waiting to be filled with love by visitors to Expo 2020.

Inspired by the 1846 poem, Marína, by Slovak poet, critic, publicist, translator and Lutheran priest, Andrej Sládkovič, the poem’s 291 stanzas and 2,900 verses resulted in it being registered in 2017 as the ‘World’s longest love poem’ by the World Record Academy. The 100,000 boxes are symbolic of the 100,000 letters in the poem, with each box containing one letter from the original 1846 manuscript. Adding even more meaning to this unique concept is the fact that Sládkovič’s Marína used to live in the house above the vault.

Igor Brossman said: “These boxes will be filled today with people’s love symbols; anything that evokes love for them, from letters to photographs, theatre tickets, or engagement rings. They will receive a certificate saying they are the certified owners of the box, which will be shipped to Slovakia tonight where they will be stored forever in the Love Vault. The owners of the boxes can visit them in Slovakia any time.”

It’s UNESCO world heritage site. Having opened its doors to the public on Valentine’s Day in 2018, it currently contains 100,000 love boxes – with 100 of the empty boxes waiting to be filled with love by visitors to Expo 2020.

Not only is the vault a celebration of love in every shape and form, the preservation of the poem in this unique way is also a way to keep poetry alive for future generations.

Pete Haduab, Manager of Relationships, Gulf Regions and North Africa said: “The goal was to find a way to build something that really celebrates love, that prompts people to slow down and really think about what is important – and that’s relationships and love. I think they succeeded because they built a beautiful love world which people from across the globe come to see.

“The only place on earth where love is institutionally protected by UNESCO, it’s going to be there forever. So it’s just as well there is room for extension. Given the square footage of the space, we’ve predicted that the vault could one day hold up to 85 million love boxes.”

Visitors to Expo 2020 on (14 February) can visit the Slovakia Pavilion to store their piece of love inside one of the 100 boxes, free of charge. They will also be able to see the actual Love Vault in Slovakia via a live stream.

Female scientists call for cultural shift on International Day of Women and Girls in Science at Expo 2020 Dubai

DUBAI, 11 February 2022 – Everyone must play a role in ensuring gender equality and accessibility for all in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to ensure a better tomorrow, global female experts concluded at events held today (11 February) at Expo 2020 Dubai for the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

Everyone must play a role in ensuring gender equality and accessibility for all in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to ensure a better tomorrow

The events, which coincided with global celebration of the International Day, were hosted at Nexus for People and Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion. Emphasising the importance of an open culture, during her keynote address, Her Excellency Sarah Al Amiri, UAE Minister of State for Advanced Technology, Chair of the UAE Space Agency and the Emirates Scientists Council, and the Deputy Project Manager of the Emirates Mars Mission, said: “I’ve had the privilege of working with remarkable women, especially on the science team of the Emirates Mars Mission, where 80 per cent of the team are women. These women are there, not because we impose a quota, but because we levelled the playing field and recruited the best people for the job.

“When you’re working on a mission, you can’t compromise on development. But you need to be open to accepting people from so many different backgrounds. And the success of the mission was actually driven from the diversity that was available. So we’re working with partners from around the world to ensure diversity within the team. The outcomes of science and technology and research is more impactful when they are more inclusive.”

Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, former UAE Minister of State for Tolerance, former Minister of State for International Cooperation and former Minister of Economic and Planning, agreed on the importance of prioritising talent: “As we talk about more gender inclusion, I believe that the drive should be first for talent; for expertise. No one should be forced to study science if they don’t like it. But as we see today, everything in our life is based on science, from phones to laptops – everything.”

Her Excellency Sarah Al Amiri, UAE Minister of State for Advanced Technology, Chair of the UAE Space Agency and the Emirates Scientists Council, and the Deputy Project Manager of the Emirates Mars Mission, said: “I’ve had the privilege of working with remarkable women, especially on the science team of the Emirates Mars Mission, where 80 per cent of the team are women

Dr Shamila Nair-Bedouelle, Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences at the United Nations Environment Programme, highlighted the urgency of closing the gender gap: “We have achieved [gender] parity at bachelor’s and master’s level for STEM, but many of these graduates are not choosing to embark on a career in research or they’re leaving the research profession prematurely.

“One way of eliminating gender stereotypes is to showcase exceptional woman. This is what the UNESCO and L’Oréal have been doing for the past 23 years through the For Women in Science programme… How are we going to tackle today’s daunting challenges, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, viral epidemics or the rapid development of artificial intelligence if we cannot call upon all of our baseline, wherever they may be? This is why it is so urgent to close the gender gap in science and technologies.”

L’Oréal and UNESCO honoured 14 women from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for their remarkable discoveries in STEM at the For Women in Science Young Talents programme MENA Awards Ceremony, held at Expo 2020 Dubai earlier this week.

Today’s event panellists advised everyone to look out for female role models, reach for support from men and women, follow their passions, look for opportunities, be persistent and not fear failure to close the gender gap in the fields of STEM and innovation.

Dr Shamila Nair-Bedouelle, Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences at the United Nations Environment Programme, highlighted the urgency of closing the gender gap.

Speaking virtually, Karen Hallberg, 2019 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Laureate and Research Director at the Bariloche Atomic Centre, said: “Physics used to be a strange career choice for a young woman. This is something that has to change culturally. I think it is changing very gradually, but we really need a deep cultural change. Women really need to feel comfortable to go into STEM … and in particular careers that are connected to the Fourth Industrial Revolution. A recent UNESCO report shows that approximately one quarter of women go into these careers so [women] have to go into a career that really excites us rather than being seen as a trend statistic.”

Highlighting the importance of men’s role in creating a more inclusive culture, Anna Andersone, Chief Empowerment Officer, Riga TechGirls (Latvia), said: “We have a new programme called Male Champions – male participants who are supporting females in their career growth. Male champions are often husbands, who support their wives, who want to learn new skills, who want to network and build connections. These are husbands who take care of the kids equally in the evenings and let the women also have their social life – I think it’s a crucial part in supporting women in achieving their goals.”

Her Excellency Dr Nawal Al Hosany, Permanent Representative of the UAE to the International Renewable Energy Agency, acknowledged the visionary nature of the UAE and her own family for supporting her career choice, but said she has also seen a cultural change when it comes to hiring: “Now, there is at least the expectation that there is an accountability about making a very intentional choice to look for the many capable and well-prepared women that we have around the world.”

The programme, UNESCO’s main celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science for 2022, ran in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), and comes ahead of International Women’s Day on 8 March.

The programme also featured Simonetta Di Pippo, Director, UNOOSA (virtual); Christiana Figueres, former Executive Secretary, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (virtual); Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, space scientist and science communicator, and host of BBC series The Sky at Night; Zainab Azim, Co-Founder, GIVE, UN Space4Women mentor and the youngest member of Virgin Galactic’s Future Astronaut Program; and Professor Catherine Ngila, 2020 Laureate of the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards.

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science programming is part of Expo 2020 Dubai’s Programme for People and Planet, which centres around 10 Theme Weeks that offer an exchange of inspiring new perspectives to address the greatest challenges and opportunities of our time.

ameerul.hasan@thechangemakers.news

Farnek launches standalone Smart technology FM solutions company

Leading UAE-based smart and green facilities management (FM) company Farnek has launched a new smart FM technology solutions company, HITEK, under the leadership of managing director, Javeria Aijaz, who was previously Senior Director – Technology & Innovations at Farnek.

Leading UAE-based facilities management (FM) company launches HITEK as a separate and dedicated FM technology solutions company

Developed in-house, the HITEK solution 4.0, was originally launched in Q3 last year, connecting people, assets and spaces from multiple remote sites, using intelligent analytical platforms, for cleaning, security and maintenance, so they could be smartly centrally managed and monitored by utilising the Internet of Things (IoT), Building Management Systems (BMS), Cloud, Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) based technologies.

Commenting, Markus Oberlin, CEO at Farnek said: “After developing the HITEK brand as a cutting-edge technological FM proposition, we received enquiries from both our customers, trade associations and government departments, as well as other industry peers.

“It soon became apparent that there was huge potential for this innovative solution. Because HITEK can integrate with any existing technologies like BMS, built on open protocol, HITEK can now activate a variety of bespoke, white-labeled portfolio solutions, to building managers and FM professionals, as well as other FM consultancies, linking smart buildings with a digitally connected workforce.

HITEK can now activate a variety of bespoke, white-labeled portfolio solutions, to building managers and FM professionals, as well as other FM consultancies

“HITEK has a distinct competitive edge, especially within a FM industry facing major challenges in the way properties are operated and managed. Buildings are becoming ever smarter, with the rapid development of artificial intelligence, the digitisation of asset management and complicated further by corporate Net Zero ambitions,” said Oberlin.

The solutions support operational efficiencies, staff welfare, and sustainability while saving clients significant amounts of money by reducing manpower costs by up to 17% by transferring from traditional FM operational management to HITEK’s smart management.

Under Aijaz’s direction, Farnek’s award-winning in-house technology team has developed a range of cutting-edge technologies and initiatives such as a CAFM, BMS, IoT Remote monitoring, smart washroom, wearable technology, HSEQ App, eProcurement, telematics solutions, facial recognition, and benchmarking and forecasting software to make buildings more efficient and ultimately more sustainable.

“HITEK’s 24/7 command and control room or ‘nerve centre’, is located at Farnek’s state-of-the-art staff accommodation centre in Jebel Ali. Being 5G and Wi-Fi 6 enabled, HITEK can take advantage of increased bandwidth, ultra-low latency and enhanced security,” said Aijaz.

The flexible HITEK 4.0 solution has already been implemented by a number of Farnek’s existing customers

“This will allow us to rollout more connected and transformative applications of technology that not only uplift the face of FM digitalisation, but also offer enhanced efficiency, as technology advances, interfacing with all aspects of FM,” she added.

The flexible HITEK 4.0 solution has already been implemented by a number of Farnek’s existing customers including Aster Healthcare and the Green Community residential development in Dubai Investments Park.

ameerul.hasan@thechangemakers.news

We must work to prevent and prepare for other pandemics while fighting against COVID-19

DUBAI, 1 February 2022 – Global experts have stressed the urgent need for the international community to collaborate in preparedness and prevention against new pandemics, particularly in regard to protecting vulnerable populations.

‘The Next Wave | Preventing and Preparing to Beat Future Pandemics’ event – held in association with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Mohammed bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences

Speakers at the hybrid ‘The Next Wave | Preventing and Preparing to Beat Future Pandemics’ event – held in association with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Mohammed bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences as part of Expo 2020 Dubai’s Health and Wellness Week – underscored that the fight against COVID-19 must continue as long as people remain without access to vaccinations – a figure that currently amounts to roughly three billion people, mostly in low-income countries.

Dr Seth Berkley, CEO at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which is a co-lead on COVAX, a global initiative aimed at equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, delivering more than 1 billion doses in less than a year, said: “COVAX has proven that it can deliver, but we faced obstacles including a lack of early at-risk funding, vaccine awarding, export restrictions and scaling up of manufacturing, which led to delays in equitable access that we cannot afford.”

Dr Berkley urged leaders from public and private sectors to renew their support and help raise the minimum needed USD 5.2 billion in additional funds over the next three months as part of an initiative titled the Gavi COVAX AMC 2022 Investment Opportunity. “This [investment] will help COVAX create a pandemic vaccine pool, a buffer to protect its supply in case of future bottlenecks, and meet the emerging needs of countries, which is ultimately what it will take to stifle this virus,” he said.

Dr Seth Berkley, CEO at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which is a co-lead on COVAX, a global initiative aimed at equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines

Dr Rhoda Wanyenze, Professor and Dean, School of Public Health, Makerere University, spoke about the effects of measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 in Africa, and specifically Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria and Senegal. Such measures often restricted access to food, water and education in vulnerable communities, and hampered access to healthcare services for other diseases, which led to Ebola and polio outbreaks.

Dr Donald Kaberuka, Chair, The Global Fund Board, said: “We cannot separate old and new pandemics, but instead need a package that handles all of them together… We have to invest in dealing with COVID because it is a danger to [progress on] other pandemics, which have been killing many more people than COVID itself, like AIDS and malaria. These are largely a problem in the Global South rather than wealthy countries, and therefore the attention and bandwidth is narrower – and this is a huge risk for the achievements of the last 25 years.”

Discussing zoonotic diseases that are at the root of many pandemics, Dr Neil Vora, pandemic prevention fellow, Conservation International, argued that pandemic prevention – such as combatting deforestation to reduce human wildlife interaction and regulating wildlife trade and markets – is far more economical and effective. “If implemented properly, pandemic prevention activities would cost USD 10-20 billion annually, compared to the millions of lives and trillions of dollars lost from a pandemic such as COVID,” said Dr Vora.

Moreover, Professor Andrew Cunningham, Deputy Director of Science, Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, highlighted that the drivers of zoonotic disease emergence are also the force behind biodiversity loss and climate change, meaning that investing in pandemic prevention could address several global challenges at once.

The drivers of zoonotic disease emergence are also the force behind biodiversity loss and climate change, meaning that investing in pandemic prevention could address several global challenges at once.

Health and Wellness Week is one of 10 Theme Weeks held under Expo 2020’s Programme for People and Planet, offering an exchange of inspiring new perspectives to address the greatest challenges and opportunities of our time.

ameerul.hasan@thechangemakers.news

Hope for cancer patients in the Middle East as Elekta launches philanthropic Elekta Foundation in Dubai

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 26 January 2022 – Elekta (EKTA-B.ST), a leading innovator of precision radiation therapy solutions headquartered in Sweden, announced today the launch of the philanthropic Elekta Foundation during a ribbon-cutting ceremony that took place last night (25 January) at the Swedish pavilion at EXPO 2020 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The launch coincided with Elekta’s participation at the Arab Health Exhibition and Congress 2022.

Elekta Foundation sets its sights on improving cancer care access in underserved markets, bringing hope to people with cancer

The Elekta Foundation’s mission is an important part of Elekta’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy and priorities. The non-profit oprganization will initiate and support projects and programmes in partnership with governments, NGOs and healthcare providers in low- and middle-income countries to improve access to cancer care.

The Foundation will focus on three areas: education and training to build competencies in radiotherapy; cancer care infrastructure by developing new tools and models to scale up cancer care; awareness and prevention through developing partnerships with local government and NGOs to fight cervical cancer initially and then to include breast and prostate cancer at a later stage.

Dr Laurent Leksell, Elekta’s Chairman of the Board, said: “As a global leader in oncology, one of Elekta’s key priorities is to make cancer care more accessible in underserved communities. In most low- and middle-income countries, cancer patients have very limited access and the possibility to receive adequate cancer care. There is also a strong need to support healthcare providers in many of these countries to expand the training and education of healthcare professionals. The Foundation is an important and integral part of Elekta’s ESG strategy to support the United Nations social development goals. One area of particular importance is to improve women’s health and reduce the burden of breast and cervical cancer in Africa.”

Currently, there are five education programmes underway with academic partners that will be delivered in a combination of virtual and in-person classes in 2022

The Foundation will pilot programs in Africa, specifically Kenya, Rwanda and Senegal, then expand to surrounding countries, regions and other low- and middle-income countries. Currently, there are five education programmes underway with academic partners that will be delivered in a combination of virtual and in-person classes in 2022.

Cecilia Wikström, Chair of the Elekta Foundation, commented: “The new Foundation aims at achieving long-lasting impact for people living with cancer in underserved and developing countries. We will now ensure that the Foundation’s mission will inspire all employees, experts and business partners in ways that benefit patients by increasing their hope – and access to treatment in line with Elekta’s strategy and with full commitment to contribute to the fulfilment of the UN sustainability goals.”

Lacy Hubbard, President of the Elekta Foundation, added: “I am honoured to take on this important role. In my previous responsibilities with Elekta, my team and I collaborated with advanced cancer centers with cutting edge technology in developed countries, but we have also seen too many rudimentary centres in underserved regions. This disparity has motivated us to help the developing world build radiotherapy competencies in business and charities, including climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds to place radiation equipment in Africa. We can do so much more in underserved markets with our new foundation. I look forward to doing everything we can to enable our Foundation and Elekta in our important mission to create a world where everyone has access to the best cancer care.”

In the UAE and Middle East region, clinicians and hospitals can join Elekta’s continuing education programmes to improve their knowledge and skills. By educating and building competencies in radiotherapy, patient care throughput and the quality of cancer care can be improved.

Clinicians and organisations in the UAE and Middle East can apply for grants and donations from the Foundation

Clinician’s and organisations can visit http://www.elektafoundation.com to find out how to apply to receive grants or donations from the Elekta Foundation.

ameerul.hasan@thechangemakers.news