(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) A two-day forum will address the private sector's active role in shaping the UAE's future, while exploring the risks and challenges of public-private partnerships.
The Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG) announced details of the second edition of the UAE Public Policy Forum bearing the theme "Shaping the Future of Public Private Partnership".
To be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from January 15-16, the forum will highlight the country's opportunities of public-private partnerships in transport, health, education, sustainable development, infrastructure and technology and innovation.
The forum's address stems from the belief that such partnerships have been central to the UAE Government and a key factor of driving the economy forward.
Dr Racquel Warner, acting direc-tor of academic affairs, said the forum will examine how these partnerships work. "These partnerships are positive but have some risks. The forum will explore mistakes made in these partnerships through local and international stakeholders locally and internationally who can enable UAE exchange and learn from different experiences."
She added that the direction of public-private partnerships is to serve the public, which could be seen from the work in advancing Dubai as a smart city. The forum will feature over 90 lecturers who will speak in six main panel discussions and six scientific sessions that will present over 30 res-earch and academic papers and case studies.
Warner added that the Infrastructure and Projects Authority, which is the PPP unit in Her majesty's Treasury from the UK will share the UK framework for engaging in PPPs. The Dubai Expo team will be delivering a showcase strand on how they are leveraging their partnerships to deliver Expo 2020.
"The aim of the forum is to highlight the potential that can be realised from PPPs and to delineate the challenges and how to mitigate them." Dr Ali Sebaa Al Marri, CEO of MBRSG, said through the two-day event, the college hopes to introduce recommendations and case studies that support PPPs.
"The private sector is the window through which the government can introduce projects to enhance the economy," he said.
Al Marri added that PPPs in the UAE have been instrumental in bringing in required technical skills in most public sector entities, diversify the UAE economy and to share the risk for undertaking major projects with government.
"These factors have proven to be instrumental in advancing the social and economic development of the UAE in line with the Strategic Agenda," he said.
The introduction of PPPs, he noted, has resulted in enhanced efficiency and increased productivity across many public sector entities.
The UAE Public Policy Forum builds dialogue around six key topics, starting with identifying public-private partnerships (PPPs); determining the best approach to create an appropriate environment for PPPs; proposing strategies to improve these partnerships; developing instruments to gauge their performance; looking into courses of action to capitalize on smart technologies to facilitate PPPs; and finally, outlining procedures to develop policies that better regulate public-private partnerships in the future.
Sherouk Zakaria "Born and raised in UAE, Sherouk Zakaria is a Senior Correspondent at Khaleej Times. Joined since May 2016, she covers Dubai Municipality, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), special events and humanitarian issues. Her choice of journalism as a career stems from her passion of telling people's stories and writing to inspire or make a difference. In her free time, she's an occasional theater and film actress. Sherouk received her BA in Mass Communications from the American University in Sharjah in 2013. Before joining Khaleej Times, she was a senior lifestyle/entertainment editor for a magazine in Dubai."
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