H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK visited H.E. Hanan Mansour AHLI, Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC) of UAE in Dubai on 17 October 2023 in order to explore cooperation possibilities.

In the meeting, H.E. SELCUK introduced to H.E. AHLI the activities of the Centre in the fields of official statistics, social and economic research, technical cooperation and training. She went on to highlight the importance of evidence-based decision-making and emphasized the need for collaboration between the two institutions. She also expressed the commitment of SESRIC to supporting the development of capacities in official statistics in the member countries of the OIC. She detailed that out of around 500 statistical capacity development activities organized under its flagship capacity development programme, the StatCaB Programme, 40 activities and 6 sessions of OIC Statistical Commission were participated by UAE.

On her part, H.E. AHLI welcomed the visiting SESRIC delegation and expressed her appreciation for SESRIC’s statistical activities for the OIC countries. She briefed on the efforts of FCSC in producing official federal statistics in the UAE and underscored the potential benefits of collaborating with SESRIC in areas of mutual interest.

The meeting concluded with a prolific discussion on the possible next steps towards strengthening the cooperation between the two organizations.

The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC) is a government center affiliated with the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs in the United Arab Emirates. FCSC was established in 2020, with the aim to develop and enhance the UAE’s performance in the areas of global competitiveness, statistics and data, and to support the country’s journey in achieving UAE’s Centennial Plan 2071. FCSC is actively engaged in building an integrated national statistical system, raising the UAE’s competitiveness across various sectors, enhancing the country’s position within global competitiveness reports and indicators, and is also engaged in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in its capacity as the General Secretariat of the National Committee for the Sustainable Development Goals.