GMIS 2021 to focus on data intelligence and connectivity

Government, business and civil society leaders set to take part in six-day manufacturing and industrialisation event in Dubai this November

The Expo 2020 Sustainability Pavilion in Dubai. The fourth Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit will be held at the Expo Exhibition Centre. Pawan Singh / The National

Global leaders representing government, business and civil society will take part in the fourth Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit scheduled for November in Dubai.

The six-day event at the Expo Exhibition Centre will focus on the importance of data intelligence and connectivity, the future of renewable energy, green manufacturing, sustainable energy and climate action, organisers said on Monday.

“Across the world, organisations are scaling up digital transformation investments to become enterprises of the future,” said Badr Al-Olama, head of the GMIS organising committee.

“As a result, there is a renewed focus on data intelligence and connectivity, which are rapidly transforming every facet of industrial and economic growth.”

Direct digital transformation investments are expected to total $6.8 trillion between 2020 and 2023, and 65 per cent of the world's GDP is set to be digitised by 2022, according to the International Data Corporation.

“At the heart of #GMIS2021 is the critical need for industries and governments to underpin technological breakthroughs into their core strategies, business models and future outlook,” said Mr Al Olama.

Governments are also focusing on green energy and boosting renewable sector investment. Efforts to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels by 2050 could create about 122 million energy-related jobs, more than double the current 58 million in the sector, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency.

The summit will also hold three global panorama sessions to examine how digital technology can drive prosperity in Africa and the Middle East, the challenges and opportunities facing European and North American manufacturing and the drive towards green industrial investments, the different development strategies in Latin America and South-East Asia and the role of digital connectivity to optimise global integration.

A special session on the UAE will explore Operation 300bn, the new industrial strategy that aims to diversify the country's economy over the next 30 years through new investment in the industrial sector.

“Advanced technology and innovation hold the potential to transform industrial growth and deliver tremendous benefits to societies across the world,” said Saed Alawadi, chief executive of Dubai Industries and Exports, the industrial development and export promotion agency of Dubai Economy.

“We must strengthen global co-operation to create long-term strategic partnerships that are crucial to accelerating innovation and addressing some of the complex social, economic and environmental challenges the world is facing today.”

The summit will be co-chaired by the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology and the UN Industrial Development Organisation.

The first two summits were held in Abu Dhabi in March 2017 and in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg in July 2019, with more than 3,000 delegates from 40 countries attending both conferences.

The third event was initially scheduled for April 2020, alongside the Hannover Messe 2020 trade fair, but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic and later held online.