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The UAE’s Ministerial Development Council, presided over by HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, has discussed the establishment of the International Centre for Registration of Patents, reflecting the UAE government emphasis on innovation and competitiveness at various levels in accordance with the UAE National Innovation Strategy launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The Centre will enhance the UAE’s position as a regional and international destination for intellectual property, making it one of the world’s best centres by 2021. It will also encourage citizens to enter the intellectual property sector as experts in the field based on international best standards.

The Council has also reviewed the executive regulations for small and medium enterprises, developed in coordination with federal and local entities in the SME sector. The regulations are aimed at enhancing the potential of the sector and supporting entrepreneurs in the country in line with the UAE Vision 2021.

The new regulations offer a series of incentives for entrepreneurs in the SME sector, which will lead to further growth in the business sector and encourage research and innovation by UAE citizens.

The Council in its meeting also discussed a unified definition for small and medium enterprises under three main sectors: trade, manufacturing and services. The unified definition will help increase the competitiveness in the SME sector and facilitate funding from banks based on standard definition of each sector, enabling the Central Bank to implement policies and regulations for banks to provide loans to enterprises in the sector. It will also enable federal ministries and authorities concerned to provide appropriate incentives for UAE citizens to enter the sector.

The Council also reviewed a memorandum for issuing the federal law on Anti-Dumping and Compensatory and Preventive Measures, which would ensure independence in decision making on anti-dumping complaints raised by national factories to protect them against illegal practices during imports to the national market.

A study prepared by the Federal Authority of Government Human Resources was presented to the Council which measured the productivity of federal government during 2014 and 2015. The study was built on two major factors, cost and efficiency, looking at them from two main angles: the service support sector, which is a key area for federal organizations, and health and education sectors, which are the most significant core sectors.

The Council reviewed the final audited reports of the financial statements and budget of Zayed University for the financial year ending December 31, 2015, as well as those of the Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (du) for the financial year ending December 31, 2014.