The Secretary-General of the Union of Arab Chambers, Dr. Khaled Hanafi, said during the opening of the fourth session of the “People of Determination International Expo”, which is being held at the Dubai World Trade Center, that "in the Arab countries, there are about 40 million people with some form of disability, more than half of them are children and adolescents, and the incidence rate in some countries experiencing conflict reaches record rates much higher than global rates, according to the statistics of the World Health Organization."
He stressed, "Generally, 60% of people with disabilities in the Arab world are unable to afford their monthly costs of living. The majority of Arab cities lack adequate infrastructure and transportation, to facilitate the daily life of persons with disabilities.”
He said, "We consider that the rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities is not just a good ethical practice, but is also beneficial for business because an inclusive and diverse workforce offers opportunities to employers, workers, society, and the economy in general."
He stressed, "We live in an era that has witnessed rapid development in technology and digitization, as there are many applications, tools, and innovations that can help alleviate the difficulties facing this category of people of determination. There is unlimited opportunity for more creative innovations by young Arab men and women, which contributes to equal opportunities for all.”
The Secretary-General of the Union drew attention to the existing cooperation between the Union of Arab Chambers, the League of Arab States, and the rest of the main partners in organizing these events. Considering that "university work constitutes a fundamental pillar in supporting people of determination", pointing out "the importance of coordination and cooperation between governments and the private sector in order to support people of determination because they represent an essential element in the Arab world."
Hanafi praised the projects participating in the “Arab Rally for People of Determination" competition, where projects vary in many fields and are closely related to the Fourth Industrial Revolution and artificial intelligence, in addition to vital projects that help highlight the potential of people of determination.”
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, President of Dubai Airports, Chief Executive Officer and CEO of Emirates Airlines and the group, accompanied by Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Her Excellency Hessa bint Issa Bu Humaid, Minister of Community Development, and a number of senior officials, inaugurated the activities of the Fourth International Expo for People of Determination in 2022 at the Dubai World Trade Center. His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed toured the pavilions of companies and centers participating in the exhibition to see the best technologies, programs, and initiatives offered by more than 250 companies and rehabilitation centers from more than 50 countries.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, who sponsored the exhibition, noted, “The UAE is at the forefront of countries in the world that have developed a sustainable strategy to empower people of determination, with the aim of enabling them and preparing them to live independently within the framework of the national policy set by our rational government to ensure that they have access to the opportunities, experiences and distinctive lifestyles available to anyone else in the UAE.”
His Highness expressed his appreciation for the wide participation in the exhibition from the public and private sectors to serve the people of determination and meet their needs, stressing that the event is a common platform for meeting and cooperating with our international counterparts in order to build a sustainable future that meets the aspirations of the people of determination.
For her part, Her Excellency Hessa Bu Humaid pointed out, “The Emirate of Dubai's hosting of the International Exhibition of People of Determination, confirms once again that the UAE is a forum for connecting minds and creating the future, for all members of society in all its categories, this embodies a great opportunity for international cooperation between all countries of the world, to learn about new technical and innovative solutions offered to people of determination.”
She explained, "People of Determination's International Expo is a reflection of the provisions of the United Nations Convention ratified by the UAE, especially Article 9, which urged facilitating the access of people of determination and their participation in the surrounding physical environment, means of transportation and information, including assistive technology. From this point of view, we hope that through the International Expo for People of Determination, local, regional and international efforts will be crowned, providing supportive and encouraging environments for people of determination, through the exchange of experiences and successful experiences. Generalizing it to various sectors and areas of life, thus helping to make the lives of people of determination more independent and integrating into their societies, and more able to benefit from services, products, and information like others.”
For his part, the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, expressed his happiness to participate in this important Arab international event, which represents a qualitative breakthrough, in the interest of persons with disabilities, not only in the Arab countries, but in the whole world. He extended his thanks to His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, for his continuous sponsorship of this important international exhibition, and for the "Live independently" initiative, which represents an additional important step within the framework of the League of Arab States, as part of its efforts to support the implementation of the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The General Secretariat of the Union of Arab Chambers of Commerce had launched, with the support of the Arab League and in cooperation with UNIDO, the Bahrain branch, (the initiative to live independently) and signed a joint cooperation agreement with the management of the International Exhibition of People of Determination, on March 30, in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed and His Excellency Ahmed Aboul Gheit, with the aim of presenting the innovations of Arab innovators during the exhibition to support technologies that serve people of determination.
The initiative aims to encourage Arab innovators to create advanced systems, programs, and technology to serve people with disabilities within a competition subject to high standards, according to which the technology most appropriate to the needs of people of determination is selected and the necessary funding is sought.
The exhibition displays technical products, some of which are presented for the first time in the Middle East, to empower people of determination and enhance their capabilities. The exhibition, which is the largest of its kind in the Middle East, Africa, and the Indian subcontinent, is the largest platform for manufacturers and distributors of support products, as well as government agencies, rehabilitation centers, health, and educational centers that deal with people of determination.
Source (Union of Arab Chambers)
