By Akanimo SampsonWhile Nigeria is still foot-dragging, at a Council meeting chaired by ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, a complete restructuring of the Government of Dubai has been agreed.The goal is to make it “more flexible and efficient” to deal with the post-coronavirus era. This was announced on Tuesday.Ethnic and social formations in Nigeria have been agitating for Africa’s most populous country to be restructured to enable it to grow and develop faster.The central government has been very reluctant to play ball, obviously fearing that restructuring could allow separatist groups to pull out of Nigeria.However, for the Dubai restructuring, binding work contracts have been signed with all officials of the emirate and directors of its departments, bodies and institutions for a period of three years.In a tweet, Sheikh Mohammed said “whoever doesn’t move forward is in retreat. Those who depend on the achievements of the past lose their future… Dubai is its place in the future. It is destined to be the vibrant global economic heart of this region.”
He also announced a restructuring of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce with the formation of three chambers of commerce for the emirate – Dubai Chamber of Commerce, Dubai World Chamber of Commerce and the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy.
“Changing the working system in the chambers to be the most important economic arm of the emirate in building new sectors and consolidating its global commercial role,” a tweet carried by the official Dubai Media Office read.
Juma al-Majid has been appointed as honorary president of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce while Abdulaziz Al Ghurair has been named as president, Sultan bin Salim will be president of Dubai World Chamber of Commerce and Omar Al-Ulama will take the role of president of the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy.
The Dubai Council meeting adopted a five-year plan to increase the value of the emirate’s foreign trade from AED1.4 trillion ($380 billion) to AED2 trillion ($540 billion).
“We know what we want. And we know how to get there. We have the national capacity to implement the plan,” said Sheikh Mohammed.
During the Dubai Council meeting, a new Dubai International Trade Map was also adopted, which includes shipping and air routes for more than 400 cities around the world.
It was also announced that work will start to add a further 200 cities to this network to establish the role of Dubai in the movement of global trade.
“We’re destined to be the world’s airport and main port,” another tweet said.
