Al Qaizi urges business community to invest in Education in Dubai
HE Hesham Khalifa Al Qaizi, CEO of Knowledge Fund in Dubai, took part in a workshop recently held at the sidelines of 19thCredit Suisse Salon in Dubai under the theme: A window on global challenges in the Middle East.
In his speech, Al Qaizi mapped out the vision & strategic plan of the Knowledge Fund; which revolve around nurturing a competitive knowledge-based economy measuring up to the global standards of learning & knowledge. Such a drive is aligned with the Dubai Strategic Plan 2021 and conforms to the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to build a diverse & vital economy for Dubai. Such an economy has to be oriented to supporting & leveraging the knowledge economy without relying on oil in realizing the aspirations of the Emirate.
"The Knowledge Fund (KF) is committed to promote and encourage investment in education in Dubai and offer a wide range of services & quality consultations to investors in this vital field, including forging superb partnerships with the private sector. This drive echoes our efforts to support the strategic planning and sustainable investment, and provide diverse options in support of quality & efficient private education in the Emirate," explained Al Qaizi.
He called upon all financial institutions, such as banks and local & international investment funds, to lend support to entrepreneurs interested in propelling the private educational & knowledge sector in the Emirate. Such assistance can be in the form of diverse banking derivatives, services and facilities that pave the way for engaging in win-win partnerships for all parties.
The KF has a professional team to lend support to investors in terms of giving them full orientation about the sector in order for them to better perceive the needs of the sector in Dubai. It also supplies investors with all information needed and endless support in all phases & steps of opening new private schools in the Emirate.
The KF allocates lands to investors through long-term lease contracts for constructing their educational institutions under a highly attractive commercial package. The KF also coordinates with all relevant government units towards realizing its objectives in facilitating the processes of establishing a private school in Dubai. These entities include authorities concerned with urban planning (such as the Dubai Municipality and the Department of Land), licensing bodies, Knowledge & Human Development Authority, and the Department of Economic Development.
The second discussion panel managed by Fahd Iqbal, Head of Middle East Research at Credit Suisse, reviewed the opportunities & challenges of post-oil era in which he touched on Future Accelerators initiative recently launched by the Dubai Government. This initiative targets future opportunities & challenges in seven vital sectors highlighted by health, education, transportation and infrastructure among others.
A diverse cast of opinion leaders, decision makers, VIPs and prominent speakers attended the event, which was held in Four Seasons Resort at Jumeirah Beach in Dubai. Attendees included John Major, ex British Prime Minister, John Kerry, ex Secretary of States in the USA, and representatives of a whole host of major businesses, investors, and top executives of banks & investment funds worldwide. The gathering discussed an array of socio-political economic issues with the aim of figuring out sustainable solutions to address the challenges associated with the economies of Middle Eastern countries.