Federal cabinet approves UAE ICT strategy 2021

The Information and Communications Technology sector (ICT) in the State remains a key economic pillar, growth driver and source of national income and its development will be the responsibility of ''our national professionals'', Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum affirmed today.
''The sector has become today part of lifestyle and a right of basic human rights.
Development of this sector will contribute to improving life standard of all community segments,'' Sheikh Mohammed said while chairing a Federal Cabinet session at the Presidential Palace during which the U.A.E.'s ICT Strategy 2021 was approved.
The strategy, devised by the UAE ICT Development Committee on instructions by Sheikh Mohammed, was approved by the Cabinet as part of national efforts to enhance previous successes and align all component of the sector with the federal government strategy and vision for 2021.
The Committee has developed 36 strategic performance indexes in the plan towards 2021 in wide-ranging areas including quality, speed, prices, infrastructure, employment, education, and innovation with the aim of elevating the U.A.E.
ranking in the global ICT indexes.
Each index is connected with a plethora of initiatives, approved as per specific time-frame. Under the strategy, speeds of broadband will be increased by 15 times, number of safe servers by 20 times and subscribers by five times. The sector is projected to generate 45,000 job opportunities between 2014 and 2021.
''The ICT sector constitutes the foundation for development of our human resources, and the key driver for the growth of our economy as well improvement of quality of life in our community. Development of this sector will be under continuous follow up,'' the Vice-President added.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet gave its nod for accession of the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA) to the Metre Convention through the membership of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) as of 2015. The BIPM acts in matters of world metrology, particularly concerning the demand for measurement standards in all industrial, trade and services sectors in the State as well as other privileges.
The Cabinet also approved amendments of some articles of the Federal Law No (23) of 1999 concerning Exploitation, Conservation, and Development of Living Aquatic Resources so as to fit strategies of both the Ministry of Environment and Water and the Federal Government in this respect and to incorporate latest world developments in the sector.
The Cabinet also gave its nod for issuing the executive regulations for the federal law regarding the notary public. Closing accounts of the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme for fiscal year 2012 and those of the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments for the fiscal year ending 31 December 2012 were also endorsed.
A set of diplomatic and economic agreements on boosting economic and trade cooperation with other countries were also approved.