The seventh edition of the Knowledge Summit organised by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) opened on Monday.
Held under the theme ‘Knowledge: Protecting People and the Planet in the Pandemic’, the event kicked off at Expo 2020 Dubai in the presence of experts, leaders, and government officials from around the world.
Jamal Bin Huwaireb, CEO of MBRF, highlighted in his opening speech the unique example set by the UAE in combating the pandemic and mitigating its repercussions. He pointed to the exceptional success of Expo 2020 Dubai as an example of how the country offers a model for the world in ensuring the highest standards of health and protection for the community and global visitors. His Excellency said the event sends a strong message of hope to the world about the role of cooperation in enhancing growth, development, and prosperity.
“The seventh edition of the Knowledge Summit, which was first held in 2014, aims to revitalise the role of knowledge worldwide by promoting new methodologies and mechanisms for producing and disseminating knowledge. It also aims to create an avenue for constructive debate about the role of knowledge in protecting people from pandemics and other global challenges,” he further said.
“This year’s summit highlights various global challenges such as climate change, food security, and poverty. It also reviews the general legal landscape to explore new legal practices in the post-pandemic world and innovative economic and environmental systems to shape a better future,” Bin Huwaireb added.
Dr Khalida Bouzar, assistant secretary general, assistant administrator and regional director, regional bureau for Arab States, UNDP, also commended on the success of Expo 2020 Dubai and the pivotal role played by MBRF at the regional and global levels in building knowledge-based societies.
She stated: “The Covid-19 pandemic has caused major global disruption that has directly affected countries’ progress towards the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, putting its gains at risk.”
Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (centre) and Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (left) at the summit
“At the United Nations Development Programme and the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, we are committed to pursuing our knowledge initiatives, believing that knowledge is the only way for humanity to confront threats. We have released the results of the Global Knowledge Index for 2020 and 2021, and here we are today at this global knowledge event, the Knowledge Summit in its seventh edition, launching the Future of Knowledge Foresight Report in its third edition. The report focuses on the transformative capacities that enable countries to continue to grow in the face of shocks and to sustain development gains,” she added.
The summit’s events are scheduled to continue until March 15, followed by the virtual conferences and their broadcast on the website on March 16, 17 and 18.