Youth are the drivers of the future, the foundation of enterprise and innovation, the pioneers of tomorrow. Their role in the economic development of a country cannot be overlooked.

Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) feels that young economists will spearhead Sharjah’s sustainable economic development.

A panel session was held by Invest in Sharjah to support and develop young economists’ abilities and skills in shaping the UAE’s economic future.

Panellists included Marwan Bin Jassim Al Sarkal, Executive Chairman of Shurooq, and Mohamad Juma Al Musharrkh, CEO of Invest in Sharjah. It was attended by 50 members of the Young Economist Programme, an initiative launched in July 2020 by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.  The three-month programme aims to equip 50 young men and women with the most advanced economic knowledge and global expertise to jump-start their careers in international and national economics organisations, and enable them to create innovative economic visions for the development of vital sectors in preparation for the next 50 years, as part of the UAE Centennial Plan 2071.

FDI agencies have a stellar role in maintaining confidence in markets especially at a time of global economic upheavals caused by the coronavirus pandemic. This gives a boost to young people to venture into new businesses and projects.

In the early part of this year, the Federal Youth Authority, FYA, launched nine national initiatives that seek to prepare Emirati youth and enhance their role in dealing with pandemics and minimising their impact on the community and all aspects of life in the UAE.

The nine initiatives come in light of the major transformations taking place across the world, which underscore the important social role young people play in protecting their countries. This has made it all the more evident that it is necessary to invest in their capabilities through training and education programmes that cultivate the knowledge and skills they need to effectively contribute to preventing pandemics, play a part in crisis management, and address the short and long-term effects of such situations.

The nine initiatives seek to engage the largest number of young Emiratis in developing the economic and service sectors that impact people’s lives the most. The Federal Youth Authority is committed to promoting youth participation and empowerment, especially in light of the rapid changes that the world is undergoing. These current conditions make it indispensable that young people – the largest segment of Emirati society – shoulder their share of national responsibilities.

Recently, the Federal Youth Authority, in partnership with the “50-Year Development Plan Committee,” launched a series of youth sessions as part of the agenda of the year of preparations for the next fifty years, in implementation of the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to involve members of the community in designing the country’s future.

The launch of the sessions reflects the efforts of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid to support the youth and encourage them to participate in designing future sectors.

The initiative will comprise 50 virtual sessions to be organised remotely, in cooperation with the committee, the Ministry of Culture and Youth, the authority and the Emirates Youth Council.

Listening to the youth and motivating them to participate in designing the future is a key approach of the UAE’s leadership, which aims to invest in human capital and reinforce youth participation in the development process, reflecting the country’s belief in the importance of their role in shaping the present and future.

The UAE has a lot of confidence in the Emirati youth and their creative ideas.

The youth should not hesitate to share their ideas and vision for the future of all sectors.