MoIAT launches the Industrial Census project
The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) has launched the Industrial Census project in collaboration with the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC), the members of the Industry Development Council, and the local statistics centres. The project aims to create a comprehensive database of all establishments that practice industrial activities according to the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC4 – Section C), including those operating in free zones, whether their licenses are industrial or non-industrial.
In line with the Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2022 and Ministerial Decision No. 6 of 2023 regulating the process for industrial establishments, the project will help create new investment opportunities for manufacturers, investors, and owners of industrial companies, as well as help decision makers track, assess and enhance the competitiveness of the industrial sector and inform related future policies and decisions that make the sector flexible. It is part of the Operation 300 billion strategy, which aims to help create a business environment that attracts local and international investments in the industrial sector and boost the growth and competitiveness of national industries.
His Excellency Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of the Industry Development Council, said: “As accurate data plays an important role in increasing the country's global competitiveness, the Industrial Census project is a key step in developing a centralized national database for the industrial sector. The project supports efforts to build a knowledge-based economy that promotes innovation, research and development (R&D), and future growth opportunities. It will also contribute to the adoption of circular economy principles, help integrate producers and manufacturers in the national economy ecosystem and promote the growth of local supply chains.”
According to the Minister, developing a comprehensive, reliable and up-to-date industrial database will help provide suppliers and manufacturers will scientific analysis to help develop a comprehensive picture of the current landscape and a view of potential future challenges. It will also help identify SMEs that require government support, as well as ways to enhance their competitiveness in local, regional and global markets.
His Excellency Omar Al Suwaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, added that as part of the project, MoIAT has developed an online form jointly with FCSC and will share it with industrial companies, including those in free zones, to fill out within 60 days. The online form will request information about their businesses, such as licenses, shareholders, some financial figures, R&D expenses, number of workers, and the quantity and value of inputs in industrial production as per the Harmonized System (HS).
He stressed that the privacy of the information submitted through the form will be maintained, and the curated database will only be used for the analytical research.
The project aims to measure the industrial sector’s performance and contribution to national GDP to help upscale local industrial capabilities and promote integration between government entities and stakeholders by exchanging related information. It will also improve the sector’s readiness and business continuity, especially during crises, and enhance the UAE’s ranking in international economic competitiveness indicators, including those related to food and medicine security.
