Taj M M Ibrahim (With inputs from Wam) - Khaleej Times

28 April 2010, 10:46 PM

His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Wednesday reiterated the resolve to make the UAE one of the best countries in the world by 2021.

“We are determined to fulfil that obligation,” he said while presiding over a meeting at the Centre of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Welfare in Umm Al Quwain.

It was attended by His Highness Shaikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, Shaikh Rashid bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Crown Prince of Umm Al Quwain, Lieutenant-General Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs. Also present at the meeting were members of the Cabinet, heads and directors of local departments and establishments.

The meeting reviewed a number of national issues related to achieving balanced development in the UAE in economic, education and health sectors. Infrastructure, houses and the other basics for creating a decent life for Emiratis were also discussed.

Shaikh Mohammed underlined his determination to achieve the UAE vision 2021 and realising the commitment from the Government to the President and the people of the UAE.

“Achieving this national goal expresses the Cabinet’s pledge to the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the dear people of the UAE,” he said. “We are determined to deliver on this pledge.”

He described in glowing terms the country in the era of the late founder, Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and noted its regional achievements after locally cementing the foundations of the federation.

“The reign of the Shaikh Zayed and the founding fathers was really an era characterized by (accomplishments made in) shorter times as well as giving the Arab nation a high status.”

He said it had unleashed a construction boom, which included infrastructure, schools, houses and establishments, and created laws and all else that contributed to founding a modern state.

“Today, and in the office of my brother His Highness Shaikh Khalifa, are carrying out our message with honesty and strong will to take to the skies of the most advanced and stable countries in the world.”

“Although we are capable of achieving this goal, we are well aware that this requires careful planning, good management as well as bridging any gaps that we might find, however small,” he said. “But, thank God, shortcomings are very few and not insolvable.”

Shaikh Mohammed compared the UAE to a beehive. “Therefore,” he said, “I ask all ministries and local departments to work as an beehive, where roles are assigned very scrupulously to the members of the community, who also serve the queen bee.”

“We should be clear in handling matters which concern the country and the citizen, because the objective for the Golden Jubilee of the Federation in 2021 is great and deserves all-out effort and realisation of potentialities,” he stressed.

Shaikh Mohammed said that integration in work, projects and plans was essential and everybody looked forward to achieving it, so that the Federation could look after all sovereign affairs efficiently and competently.

“What we need is to boost integration in all other domains, especially in strategic planning,” he said. “Shaikh Khalifa and I have a vision, which is the national action programme for the Emirates, and the government is carrying out the programme through its plans, projects and the UAE Vision 2021.”

He further said, “In order to have the best implementation, we require the highest levels of government departments and their local government counterparts to integrate plans and projects.

“We have chalked out the government road plan, laid down the proper rules and principles.  The ministers and officials have to implement properly the content of the plan with the team work, and avoid egoism to achieve our objectives.

He paid tribute to Shaikh Saud for taking part in the meeting, which he described as a first step on the road.

Earlier Shaikh Mohammed inaugurated the Centre of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Welfare, where he unveiled the plaque of the state-of-the-art building after being accorded a warm welcome by the Ruler and other officials in the emirate