Report and Joint Initiative Boost New Drive in Fostering Manufacturing Capabilities

Oliver Cann, Director, Public Engagement, Tel.: +41 79 799 3405; E-mail: Oliver.Cann@weforum.org

• Report, The Future of Manufacturing; Driving Capabilities, Enabling Investments analyses the main drivers of change in manufacturing
• The United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the Global Agenda Council on the Future of Manufacturing announce their intent to launch the Global Manufacturing and Industrialization Initiative
• Full report is available here
• More information about the Summit on the Global Agenda 2014 is available here

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 10 November 2014 – The global manufacturing landscape is being transformed by major drivers related to market forces, general capabilities, resources and policy. The Future of Manufacturing; Driving Capabilities, Enabling Investments analyses these trends and underlines the need for private and public collaboration. The report supports the need for the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Initiative being launched by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the Global Agenda Council on the Future of Manufacturing of the World Economic Forum.

The launch of the report and the broader joint initiative supports the main goal of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development to improve global living conditions sustainably.

This partnership could best help the manufacturing sector towards a prospective and strategic approach by focusing on the six key drivers of change highlighted in the report. These long-term capabilities are:

• Skill gaps between developed and developing economies, and between skills provided by educational systems and those sought by the market.
• Demographic shifts related to the ageing of the population, which will change consumption patterns as well as the labour market.
• Automation and robotization will continue their ongoing diffusion within the manufacturing system.
• Next-generation technology will bring in a different set of manufacturers, as new technologies are usually brought forward by new firms. New forms of manufacturing are expected to emerge, particularly in the nanotechnology and 3D printing sectors.
• In emerging markets, new suppliers are emerging and a consolidation is being observed in several segments of the manufacturing sector. For instance, Chinese OEMs and suppliers are becoming increasingly active players in the global market.
• OEMs will be adapting to local market conditions and regulations, such as input costs and environmental regulations. This adaptation is aimed at minimizing input costs and maximizing market potential.

Abdulla Al Saleh, Under-Secretary at the UAE Ministry of Economy, said: “We are honoured to support the launch of this report and participate in the establishment of a Global Manufacturing and Industrialization Initiative. This initiative will address the importance of the industrial sector in building sustainable economies based on knowledge and innovation, and enable participants to share experiences and best practices and policies in manufacturing from around the world as well as highlighting the more recent experiences of the UAE in sectors such as aerospace and renewables.”

The Co-Chairs of the Summit on the Global Agenda 2014 are Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Minister of Economy of the United Arab Emirates, and Sami Dhaen Al Qamzi, Director-General, Department of Economic Development of the Government of Dubai.

Notes to Editors

The Host broadcaster for the Summit is Dubai Media Corp.

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