The Edge of Government platform aims to recognise government innovations from around the world…reports Asian Lite News
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, visited the Edge of Government platform at the World Governments Summit (WGS) 2024, which concluded today in Dubai.
The Edge of Government platform, overseen by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation under the theme “Shifting Perspectives”, showcased 13 innovations designed to foster a fresh, out-of-the-box approach to addressing critical challenges. The platform primarily aimed to inspire and motivate through interactive experiences.
The Edge of Government platform aims to recognise government innovations from around the world, offering a great opportunity for knowledge sharing and a preview of innovative, future-ready tools.
Standing out among the exhibits were the two winners of the 6th Edge of Government Award, which were announced on the second day of the WGS. These included Türkiye’s RoboRoyale ecosystem support project and Spain’s Life Work Balance project.
Other innovations included submissions from Canada, Guatemala, China, USA, Kenya, UK, Finland, Spain, Australia, India, France, Rwanda, and Türkiye.
Sheikh Hamdan was accompanied by Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, and Vice-Chair of the World Government Summit, and Abdulla Al Basti, Secretary-General of the Executive Council of Dubai; and Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police.
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation launched the 6th edition of the Edge of Government Award during this year’s summit, introducing visitors and participants to key initiatives and innovative solutions developed by governments.
World Governments Summit (WGS) Organisation report advocates for the concept of a “15-minute city”, promoting easy access to essential services to enhance the quality of urban life….reports Asian Lite News
The World Governments Summit (WGS) Organisation, in a strategic alliance with KPMG, has released the “Future of Cities and Urban Economic Growth” report, which addresses the future challenges faced by cities and the urban economy, and reviews innovative solutions to confront them.
The report advocates for the concept of a “15-minute city”, promoting easy access to essential services to enhance the quality of urban life.
The “Future of Cities and Urban Economic Growth” report is tailored to equip city leaders and stakeholders with practical insights into the ever-evolving urban landscape. It addresses a spectrum of challenges faced by cities today, spanning rising energy costs, skilled labour shortages, income disparities, as well as climate change, cybersecurity, and others.
The report focuses on important aspects related to the future of cities, including physical infrastructure, low-cost housing solutions, small businesses, and inadequate green spaces. It also reviews several innovative solutions discussed by the World Governments Summit in its previous editions. These solutions include constructing robust urban identities that attract investment and talent, and the best methods for selecting and deploying smart city technologies to serve community interests.
Mohamed Yousef Alsharhan, Managing Director of the World Governments Summit Organisation, emphasised that the future of cities is a crucial pillar of the WGS Organisation’s agenda. This is due to its significant role in shaping the features of future societies amidst the considerable challenges and rapid changes driven by unprecedented technological and scientific developments the world is currently undergoing.
“The ’15-minute city’ concept represents a fundamental shift in the philosophy of urban design, fostering a community-centric approach where access to vital services and amenities is within a brief walk or bike ride. This model not only enhances convenience but also significantly transforms the way we experience and live in cities,” Alsharhan added.
Chucrallah Haddad, Partner, Head of Advisory, KPMG Lower Gulf, said, “Cities serve as the nucleus of innovation and progress, facing a myriad of challenges that demand complex solutions. The Future of Cities report not only identifies these challenges but also offers actionable strategies for cities to thrive in the face of constant disruption, embracing technological advancements while prioritising the well-being and inclusivity of its inhabitants”.
The “Future of Cities and Urban Economic Growth” emphasises pivotal factors such as the need for innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity in successful city initiatives, along with the significance of fostering vibrant municipal identities to attract investments, businesses, and talent.
A pivotal aspect emphasised in the report is the delicate balance between technology deployment and privacy, advocating for a focus on community access and ethical use of digital tools to avert cybersecurity risks. The integration of “futures literacy” and sustainability as foundational principles in legislation and business practices is a crucial recommendation, empowering cities to navigate complexity and build resilience against external changes.
The report highlights the leadership of cities in the Gulf region, in spearheading technological innovation. It also underscores the valuable lessons that their advanced experiences offer for cities around the world.
Delving into global case studies, the report also highlights the importance of managing customer expectations in supply chain management, the benefits and costs associated with reshoring and near-shoring, and avenues for financing sustainable supply chains and near-shoring initiatives.
The UAE’s National Food Security Strategy is highlighted as an example of managing supply chain effectively, with innovations such as high-rise vertical farms using hydroponic and aquaponic techniques that can yield 100 times more produce than traditional farms. The UAE aims to increase home-grown food production by 30-40 percent in ten years and become a world-leading hub of innovation-driven food security by 2051.
The “Future of Cities and Urban Economic Growth” emphasises the significance of adaptation and innovation, where successful cities are embracing resilience, sustainability, inclusivity, and emerging technologies as key pillars for their initiatives. Cultivating a strong municipal identity and vibrant cultural environment is spotlighted, serving as a magnet for businesses, investments, and young talent.
Al-Budaiwi praised the UAE for hosting the WGS, including the great efforts exerted to prepare for this high-level global summit in which more than 150 countries take part….reports Asian Lite News
Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jassim Muhammad Al-Budaiwi affirmed that the 2023 World Government Summit (WGS) is globally important to encouraging future makers, policymakers, business community and civil society.
He was speaking at the opening of the 2023 WGS today in Dubai. The meeting, which is being held from February 12 to 15, 2023, sees the participation of senior government officials, experts, leaders of the government and private sectors, and various other stakeholders.
Al-Budaiwi praised the UAE for hosting the WGS, including the great efforts exerted to prepare for this high-level global summit in which more than 150 countries take part. The meeting is bound to contribute significantly to innovating government services and achieving a safer, more flexible, inclusive and sustainable future. It aims to come with solutions to achieve gradual development and improve of livelihood of people around the world. Its message is that policymakers, the business community and civil society are crucial to shaping the future of countries. WGS is a global knowledge platform for presenting distinguished government experiences.
Al-Budaiwi underlined the importance of the conference in building, consolidating and reaching regional and international partnerships aimed at facing key global challenges by presenting ideas for managing the future for governments. He praised the UAE for hosting international events of such calibre, proof of the ability of the UAE government and people to bring about change in various fields.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Egyptian President Abdul Fattah El-Sisi, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, and other dignitaries attend WGS 2023 in Dubai. (Photo WAM)
Minister Al Gergawi identified five key transformations that will change the future of the world over the coming years as a result of the rapid technological development….reports Asian Lite News
UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, who is also the Chairman of World Government Summit (WGS) Organisation, highlighted the rapid change that the world has witnessed over the last 10 years since the inception of the Summit.
During his opening session “A Decade of Change” on the first day of the 10th WGS, Al Gergawi identified five key transformations that will change the future of the world over the coming years as a result of the rapid technological development.
The first transformation, he said, was climate change, which could displace more than 1 billion refugees by 2050, costing $23 trillion loss for the world. “Recognizing this pressing issue, the UAE named 2023 as the “Year of Sustainability”, and within its role in addressing this global issue, it will host COP28,” said Al Gergawi.
Al Gergawi added that the second transformation is the emergence of a new economic landscape. “We are heading towards a new economic landscape with new blocs of strong economic and global influence that will divide the world into different financial and economic systems, forcing governments to make decisive economic, technological and geopolitical decisions.”
Population Growth will be the third transformation, the minister said. “This means that the concentration of new megacities will be in the developing countries in Asia and Africa at a rate of 86 percent. This is a huge challenge for these countries and an opportunity if governments can make use of their human resources.”
Future jobs
The fourth transformation is the radical change in the concepts of illiteracy and skills. “Illiterates will be those who cannot deal with Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques. In the next decade, we will have tens of millions of vacant jobs due to the lack of proper skills in potential candidates. For governments, unemployment will not only necessitate creating jobs but also introducing the appropriate technical skills and capabilities that would qualify individuals for future jobs,” Al Gergawi.
Al Gergawi identified AI as the fifth transformation, which will determine the power and future of governments.
He added there will be proactive governments adopting AI techniques or underdeveloped governments that will live alone in a world similar to the ancient ages. “The power of governments will be measured by their ability to adopt technology,” he said.
Al Gergawi noted that global average rate of government readiness for AI is less than 50%, stressing that governments’ adoption of AI technologies has become inevitable. “It is no longer an option, and many governments have lost the battle of trust to companies because of their delay in adopting advanced technologies.”
Vital role
Al Gergawi noted that the world has witnessed a 5000 percent increase in data production compared to the last decade. Data plays a vital role in shaping politics and the economy and providing government services, the minister said. “Whoever owns data owns the future,” Al Gergawi added.
“Compared to the day we launched the first edition of the WGS, our reality, expectations, and our understanding of the future have drastically changed. We have witnessed events that the world did not expect, and events that changed the global landscape in various fields. We also witnessed accelerated developments even faster than we could have imagined. The world witnessed unprecedented rising temperature and natural disasters that cost humanity losses amounting to $3 trillion,” added Al Gergawi.
He said: “The COVID-19 outbreak has cost the world millions of lives and economic losses that exceeded $12.5 trillion. Unfortunately, the Russia-Ukraine war we are witnessing today is expected to cost the world about $2.8 trillion losses, with rising fears of a nuclear war. Today, we are also witnessing the highest inflation rates in years, with the highest food prices we have seen in 60 years.”
Virtual migration
Pointing to the rapid technological advancement within the past decade, Al Gergawi said that four billion people have migrated to the virtual world, with more than half the world’s population on social media. The AI revolution and the emergence of new technology applications will give everyone skills they never expected to possess, and will affect many sectors. He concluded: “I used to say we are in the first second of the first minute of the first hour of the first day of the first year of the technological advancement. Now I can safely say we have moved to the 2nd second of the first minute of the first hour of the first day of the first year of this revolution. And we shall witness the rise of many transformational shifts
