UAE is home to over 1.5 million trade licenses: Bin Touq

emirates7 - The Economic Integration Committee held its seventh meeting of 2024 under the chairmanship of Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, the UAE Minister of Economy. Key attendees included Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, and Alia Abdullah Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, along with representatives from the economic development departments of all seven emirates.

The meeting reviewed progress on various economic legislations aimed at enhancing the national business environment's competitiveness and advancing the UAE's shift to a knowledge- and innovation-driven economic model. Additionally, the Committee evaluated the implementation of recommendations from its previous session, with a specific focus on telemarketing practices and ensuring consumer protection in line with UAE Cabinet directives.

Minister Bin Touq highlighted the UAE's success in establishing itself as a global hub for economic activities, attributing this achievement to the nation's visionary leadership, flexible policies, and advanced economic legislation. These strategies align with the goals of the 'We the UAE 2031' vision, which aims to position the UAE as a global leader in the development of innovative legislation for emerging economic sectors.

The Minister emphasized that the Committee continues to work closely with various stakeholders to a robust legislative framework supporting economic diversification, investment attractiveness, and increased business activity. Currently, the UAE hosts over 1.5 million registered trade licenses.

The meeting also reviewed the Ministry of Economy's strong performance in the Government Data Maturity Index, where it scored an impressive 95.7%. This achievement reflects the Ministry's commitment to best practices in data management, fostering a comprehensive economic database to support strategic decision-making, international economic relations, and the sustainability of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The Committee discussed an initiative to enhance and protect intellectual property rights for UAE products marked by geographical indications (GIs). This initiative aims to promote the global competitiveness of Emirati products, safeguard the rights of producers in international markets, and boost the production of high-quality local goods representing the UAE’s heritage, such as dates, honey, dairy products, and fish.

To achieve these goals, producers are required to adhere to strict production standards and regulations related to intellectual property protection for GI-tagged products. The initiative, developed in collaboration with relevant authorities, will streamline licensing procedures, ensure compliance, and support traditional industries while preserving national heritage and promoting tourism. These efforts are expected to strengthen trade relations through mutual recognition of GIs and bolster the UAE’s global reputation as a producer of premium-quality goods.