Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit Launches Groundbreaking Manifesto for Safer and Sustainable Industries

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – 5 December 2024: The Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS), hosted during Abu Dhabi Business Week by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), officially launched the Manifesto for Global Industrial Safety , marking a significant step in uniting global efforts to address industrial safety challenges. The initiative, developed in collaboration with leading global organisations, has gained broad support from industry leaders, governments, and international stakeholders, setting a new standard for safety and sustainability in industrial practices.

The Manifesto, spearheaded by the Global Initiative for Industrial Safety (GIFIS) in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Lloyd’s Register Foundation, and other prominent partners, outlines a strategic framework to address safety risks in traditional and emerging industries. The event saw participation from top officials representing the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority (ADCDA), and Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), along with global industry leaders and policymakers.

Uniting for Safer Industries

The Manifesto provides a clear roadmap, grounded in five guiding principles, to harness technological advancements for worker safety and operational resilience. These principles were a central focus at GMIS2024, where experts emphasised that safety investments are critical drivers of growth, resilience, and sustainability.

His Excellency Brigadier Acting Director-General Salem Abdullah Bin Barak Al Dhaheri, Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority, stated:
“Investing in safety is not an additional burden but a strategic decision that ensures operational resilience, protects lives, and enhances confidence in industries. Without safety, innovations can pose risks that threaten lives and the environment, hindering progress.”

H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity for the UAE Government, highlighted the UAE’s global leadership in safety and security indicators, including cybersecurity, underscoring the importance of partnerships and information-sharing to achieve a resilient and secure future.

A Call to Global Action

The Manifesto’s launch was accompanied by powerful endorsements from key stakeholders. H.E. Osama Amir Mohamed Fadhel, Assistant Undersecretary of the Industrial Accelerator Sector at MoIAT, showcased the UAE’s commitment to global competitiveness through initiatives like Operation 300bn and the Make it in the Emirates program. He extended an invitation to international stakeholders to attend the upcoming Make it in the Emirates Forum in May 2025 at ADNEC.

Luomei Shu, Director of UNIDO Institutional Partnerships, reinforced the need for collaborative global action, stating:
“Safety is a shared responsibility. We must ensure access to technologies is equitable and secure across industries and geographies.”

Driving Industrial Transformation

Since its initial publication in September 2024, the Manifesto has garnered over 1,000 endorsements from stakeholders across industries, reflecting its transformative potential. The initiative addresses pressing global safety concerns, including unsafe working conditions that contribute to significant economic losses annually.

Established in 2015, GMIS builds bridges between manufacturers, governments, and global stakeholders, driving innovation and sustainability in the manufacturing sector. With its roots in harnessing the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), GMIS continues to promote economic regeneration aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.The Manifesto for Global Industrial Safety is available for download at GIFISManifesto2024.pdf. For more information on #GMIS2024 visit GMIS.