INDIA: Maharashtra Finance Minister, Sudhir Mungantiwar, [last week] said upgrading the knowledge economy and skill development for increasing employment opportunities will be the focus of his first budget, to be presented in March. Talking to PTI, Mungantiwar said agriculture, irrigation, infrastructure, education (especially skill development) and knowledge economy will be the key areas where he will work for revenue generation which is necessary to fund social security schemes. Link
UAE: Delivering his keynote address at the opening session His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman & Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group emphasised the importance of the forum in evaluating the prospects for the UAE economy in 2015 and in promoting the march towards a knowledge economy. … “The focus of this event on knowledge economy fits well with the aspirations of Dubai to enhance its knowledge capital through skills and new technologies which eventually will lead to high productivity. The leadership has developed an integrated strategy, which comprises 100 initiatives and 1,000 smart services, to transform Dubai into one of the smartest cities in the world. Economic activities, lifestyles, transportation, and government services will be aligned with smart technologies, environment and human capital development, leading to the realisation of the knowledge economy,” His Highness added. Link
MIDDLE EAST: Christopher Schroeder, an American entrepreneur and author of Startup Rising — The Entrepreneurial Revolution Remaking the Middle East says, that despite the common journalistic narrative of the region being “in flames,” Middle East start-ups are enduring that fight and are even succeeding. … “The last decade has been about oil, trade, real estate, banking — the next decade will leverage this success to focus on innovation and the knowledge economy,” says Schroeder. Link
NIGERIA: The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Industrial Fund (ITF), Dr. Juliet Chukkas-Onaeko has underscored the need for organisations to adequately equip their workforce to contribute to national growth and development. According to her, knowledge based economy was required to keep abreast in areas of specialisation, in order to remain relevant and competitive in the workplace. Link