مصطفى الزرعوني​
كاتب صحفي ومحلل سياسي

long-term strategies

Since its creation, the UAE has been keen to develop a forward-looking strategy for all sectors, in order to ensure readiness in dealing with all possible circumstances. This has helped the country prove equal to the current challenge posed by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which has affected all walks of life now that there is no vaccine or comprehensive treatment available.
The country’s well-thought-out strategy has not only guaranteed the availability of food and medical products in the local markets but also enabled the UAE to assist more than 24 nations by sending 260 tons of aid so far.
Internationally speaking, the UAE has cooperated with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to launch an international air bridge to provide medical and humanitarian supplies, which would be a lifeline to needy peoples of more than 100 countries all around the world, especially those suffering the devastating repercussions of “COVID-19” pandemic.
One may wonder; How did the UAE reach to where it is today? The answer simply lies in the country’s long-term strategies that it has been moving forward based on them, which resulted in takitng the UAE into new heights day after day.
For example, 10% of Emirati students studying abroad are specialized in medicine, 38% in science, 42% in engineering and technology. In addition, the research and development expenditure constituted 1% of the country’s GDP in 2017
Thanks to its relentless efforts being made locally and globally, the UAE has been ranked 11th globally and 1st in the Arab world in the Logistic Performance Index 2018, highlighting that fact that we have so many factories that we are unaware of their significant capacities in exporting food and pharmaceutical products to the world and their vital role in the re-export and storage.
The UAE is also the world’s 31st nation in the Global Food Security Index 2018 and we aim to be the 9th globally next year, a significant target which explains the proactive decisions taken by the UAE such as launching the National Food Security Strategy and appointing a minister to be in charge of food security issues.
Despite its catastrophic impacts, which almost everyone knows, the pandemic will help create a stronger food security; in line with the 2051 target (To be the world’s first nation in food security).
It goes without saying that the health, security and military sectors in the UAE are progressing based on clear visions and this was made clear a couple of days ago by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, when he said: “Despite the challenges the whole world is facing, and us too part of it, the food supply chain in the UAE at this time was not, and will not be impacted, whether it’s the local production; the stockpile; or the imports.”

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