Author: Web Desk

ABU DHABI: His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, today chaired the Ministerial Development Council meeting, which took place at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi.

During the meeting, the Council discussed a number of initiatives, projects, and regulatory guides submitted by ministries and federal departments to promote government work and enhance the efficiency of strategic sectors in the country.

The Council also discussed the government guidelines related to regulating the public financial affairs of the federal government, in addition to a number of proposed national policies and projects in the fields of education, culture, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and economy.

The meeting also reviewed reports and updates on the implementation of national strategies and policies across a number of sectors.

The Ministerial Development Council reviewed the requests and recommendations of the Federal National Counci
l regarding a number of government topics, as well as the results of the country’s participation in international conferences and events.

Source: Emirates News Agency

THESSALONIKI: Celebrating a new milestone in its cultural journey of fostering meaningful intercultural connections, Sharjah will assume the role of the first Arab Guest of Honour at the 20th Thessaloniki International Book Fair (TIBF), scheduled from 16th to 19th May.

In its engagement at the fair, Sharjah is poised to curate a comprehensive cultural itinerary, featuring over 30 panel discussions, innovative workshops, and captivating heritage shows, and showcasing 10 books spanning poetry, prose, arts and studies, all translated into Greek, in an open dialogue with the cultural landscape in Greece.

Led by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), the emirate’s delegation will be represented by more than 20 cultural, educational, and heritage institutions from Sharjah, who will work towards fostering deeper collaboration and partnerships between Emirati entities and their Greek counterparts.

The delegates will exemplify Sharjah’s cultural project, which stems f
rom the Emirati and Arab identity, in its quest to create a global positive impact on knowledge and the creative industries.

The TIBF will be celebrating Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, by hosting her in a session titled ‘Unlocking Worlds: Children’s Literature and World Book Capitals,’ to speak about her book World Book Capital, which addresses the ‘Sharjah World Book Capital 2019’ experience. Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi will be highlighting the transformative power of children’s literature in raising awareness about World Book Capitals, alongside Anna Routsi, World Book Capital Network Expert, and will delve into the inspiration behind such literary endeavours, and her efforts in promoting Arab culture globally.

The Sharjah GoH programme was announced by Ahmed Al Ameri, CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) during a press conference on Tuesday 14th of May, which was organised by the Hellenic Foundation for Culture, in cooperation with Greek Publishers to unveil the agenda of the 20th edition of the T
hessaloniki International Book Fair (TIBF).

‘Through the Sharjah Guest of Honour programme at TIBF, we are keen to foster constructive dialogue with all entities dedicated to culture and the creative industries, globally. The TIBF will bring new networking opportunities for authors, cultural entities, publishing and copyrights professionals as well as literary agents, and offer the Greek and global communities a gateway to the history of Emirati culture,’ Al Ameri said.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI: Tadweer Group has announced the closed bidding for the planned development of Abu Dhabi’s first greenfield Material Recovery Facility (MRF). The state-of-the-art facility will recover recyclable materials derived from municipal solid waste, significantly maximising the diversion of waste from landfills through recycling and preparing feedstock for the Abu Dhabi Waste to Energy facility. This will enable increased recycling, promoting a circular economy and supporting Tadweer Group’s wider ambition of diverting 80 percent of Abu Dhabi’s waste away from landfill by 2030.

The MRF will be developed as part of the organisation’s circular cluster, a series of facilities, which will contribute to the circular economy and ensure that minimal waste ends up in landfills. The long-term objectives for the facility include providing feedstock for other waste conversion processes and products, such as waste to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

Ali Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Tadwe
er Group, said, ‘As we continue to revolutionise waste management in Abu Dhabi, we’re delighted to share this important milestone. A key part of our circular cluster, the development of the greenfield Material Recovery Facility is clear progress for the Emirate. This aligns with our strategic vision to harness technology to extend the lifetime of recyclable materials for a sustainable future. The facility will also directly contribute to our long-term ambitions of waste conversion, as we take steps forward to achieve a circular economy, echoing the pillars of the UAE’s net-zero agenda.’

The facility will also serve to promote local and foreign private sector investment and create employment and training opportunities for UAE nationals. The expected capacity will be 1.3 million metric tonnes per year. Additionally, the facility will cover an area of over 90,000 square metres, making it one of the largest MRFs in the region, and will be located within the Al Mafraq Industrial area, 36 kilometres from the centr
e of Abu Dhabi.

Further, the facility is designed to meet a number of strategic objectives for Tadweer Group, with a focus on landfill diversion. This includes its role as a stepping stone for the next phase of the organisation’s growth, as Tadweer Group transitions to a high diversion and high recycling system.

The bidding for the development of the facility will take place as part of a closed tender process. The awarding of the contract and engineering, procurement, and construction works are expected to begin at the end of 2024, with operations commissioning targeted for the end of 2026.

Tadweer Group continues to expand its portfolio and collaborate with like-minded organisations to unlock the value of waste and promote a circular economy and a healthier environment for generations to come.

Source: Emirates News Agency