Tag Archives: president
European Parliament wishes Shaikh Khalifa good health
European Parliament wishes Shaikh Khalifa good health (Wam) / 29 January 2014 The Delegation for Relations, of the European Parliament’s Foreign Committee says Shaikh Khalifa is a role model of a successful leader. The Delegation for Relations with the Arab Peninsula of the European Parliament’s Foreign Committee has expressed its best wishes for the good health of the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. They said Shaikh Khalifa is a role model of a successful leader, who placed his country among the ranks of advanced nations. The MPs made their remarks during a session of discussion with their UAE counterparts. Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr, Speaker of the UAE Federal National Council (FNC), said the GCC and EU maintain strategic partnership and constructive cooperation in various areas including economic, political and energy fields. He cited the EU’s vital role in supporting security and stability in the Middle East in general and the Gulf in particular given its long experiences over centuries in promoting principles of justice, democracy and freedom. During the session, the two sides discussed the latest developments in the Arab region with emphasis on the crisis in Syria and EU’s efforts to end it. Al Murr affirmed that the UAE backs regional and international efforts to achieve stability and security in the region. He explained the UAE’s respect and protection for human rights, which are grounded in the UAE constitution, has earned it membership in the UN Human Rights Council. The international community, he said, has recognised the UAE as a promoter and upholder of values of tolerance, cultural diversity and peaceful co-existence. Al Murr also spoke about the political and education systems, gender equality, empowerment of women and child rights among other topics of common concern. On the labour rights, he said the UAE adopts transparent policies and initiatives that ensure protection of contractual workers’ rights in line with international standards and conventions. For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Mohammed bin Zayed receives Emirati inventors
Mohammed bin Zayed receives Emirati inventors (Wam) / 28 January 2014 Abu Dhabi Crown Prince says human resources are the main and first driving force in economic, social, cultural and educational developmen General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, affirmed that vision of the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for building and investing in minds and qualifying of scientific human resources comes as a priority in building nation. General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan speaks with officials of Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee prior to viewing projects by participants of the Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee (TDC) – Takamul initiative. -Wam He said human resources are the main and first driving force in economic, social, cultural and educational development in addition to their capability to maintaining national gains and securing them for future generations. General Shaikh Mohammed added that the overall development, being witnessed in the UAE in various fields, is based on the efforts of its innovative and loyal citizens, who have science and knowledge, citing that progress is strongly connected with new innovative ideas, which would contribute to progress in the economic, social and scientific development. The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi said these while receiving a group of Emirati inventors from all national bodies at Al Bahar Palace, who presented their inventions and innovations in a number of fields. He also said that these inventions were developed registered in the country through the support of the Takamul programme. General Shaikh Mohammed re-affirmed that the UAE will save no efforts to secure a proper and stimulating environment, which is capable of establishing scientific infrastructure for ideas, innovations and inventions in all fields. He also pointed out the role of the Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee (TDC), which contributes to spreading of scientific awareness, encourages and supports Emirati youth in order to develop and apply their inventions in the reality. He said that he is looking forward to implementing these inventions and projects in the real life. He praised the inventors’ contributions to supporting knowledge economy and their efforts to invent new technologies, to benefit homeland and society, underscoring the importance of continuing this march, which would lead to enhancing development in the country. General Shaikh Mohammed was briefed on 12 inventions, out of 66, which were registered by Takamul Programme in 2011 and exchanged talks with inventors and their supporters. The inventors, aged between 13 to 75-year-old presented a group of outstanding and world-class inventions in all technology sectors, which constitute a base for new and promising industries and are receiving increasing attention from international companies, making them contribute actively in the development of the UAE economy and society. For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Support Emiratis in repaying loans, UAE warns banks
Support Emiratis in repaying loans, UAE warns banks Nissar Hoath / 23 January 2014 Banks that do not support Emiratis to get their heavy debts cleared under a programme initiated by the President to be penalised. The Office of the Presidential Affairs on Wednesday warned that banks which fail to cooperate and help heavily indebted Emiratis will be penalised. “Those banks that do not support Emiratis to get their heavy debts cleared under a programme initiated by the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in 2011 will also be penalised,” said Ahmed Jumma Al Za’abi, Deputy Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of the Fund for the Settlement of Bad Debts, at a Press conference after the opening of the fund headquarters in Al Jazira Club complex where Emiratis can visit and submit their applications for their bank debt waivers. Al Za’abi said so far the fund has helped 2,700 out of 6,000 applicants clearing debts of over Dh1.8 billion with the support of banks. “More than 50 per cent of the banks operating in the country have been very helpful and providing concession to help clear the loans of Emiratis under the fund programme. The other banks have been little helpful. However, if we don’t see any cooperation from these banks, action will be taken against them and (they will be) penalised,” he said without disclosing the names of the banks that did not take part in the initiative. He also said in case of non-cooperation, the names of the banks will be sent and published by the Central Bank, and there will be no cooperation and support from the government to these banks. Al Za’abi further added the fund has agreed to write off 50 per cent of the debtors’ loans, while the other half would be settled by the loans’ fund that would be reimbursed from the debtors through their salaries. He also said the fund was initiated by the President in 2011 with the allocation of Dh10 billion to help those Emiratis who were facing lawsuits or police cases related to their bank loans. To a question, Al Za’abi said the fund was established for the support of UAE citizens only and expatriates will not benefit from it. He also said under the fund programme, all criminal cases pending in connection with bounced security cheques and non-repayment of loans by Emiratis have been suspended and debts cleared. Al Za’abi, said most of the cases relate to, personal and car loans and loans sought for setting up small businesses. In March last year, the Shaikh Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development signed a joint deal with 34 defaulting Emiratis entrepreneurs to protect them from prosecution. The fund was established in 2007 with a Dh2 billion fund. nissar@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
