| | JUNE 20238IN FOCUSABU DHABI UNVEILS INITIATIVES TO BOOST SMART MANUFACTURING IN SME SECTORKEPPEL CORP. SIGNS AGREEMENTS TO EXPAND HYDROGEN AND AMMONIA PRODUCTION IN ASIAThe Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development has created two programmes to assist small and medium-sized businesses in achieving the goals of the emirate's industrial plan. In order to create a creative and sustainable ecosystem, the department established the Smart Manufacturing Competence Centre, which will serve as a catalyst for regional and international industry stakeholders.Additionally, the Smart Manufacturing Incentive Programme was introduced. It intends to support SMEs in the manufacturing industry as they transition to smart manufacturing.Industry 4.0, Circular Economy, Talent Development, Ecosystem Enablement, Homegrown Supply Chain, and Value Chain Development are the six transformative programmes of the Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy that will be implemented through this programme.By 2031, Abu Dhabi hopes to double the size of its manufacturing industry to 172 billion dirhams, generate 13,600 new jobs, and raise non-oil exports to 178.8 billion dirhams by investing 10 billion dirhams ($2.7 billion) in these efforts. The SMCC, which is expected to start operations in the first quarter of 2024, will encourage information sharing, centralise innovative manufacturing services, and ease stakeholder engagement.The industrial sector has job options available through MoIAT. The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology in the United Arab Emirates has started a new programme to provide 500 local talent with training and employment possibilities.The programme, developed in partnership with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization and the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council, aims to give Emiratis the skills they need to work in the industrial sector.Leading institutions including the Abu Dhabi Vocational Education and Training Institute and the Centre of Excellence for Applied Research and Training will be responsible for the program's special structure and design, according to WAM.Through the Nafis platform, more than 70 industrial businesses from the UAE will take part in providing these training and employment possibilities.Tabby increases the debt limit to $350 million. On May 26, Singapore's Keppel Corp announced the signing of two agreements to expand its efforts in the development of green hydrogen and ammonia production for use in Australia and export to Asia.The Singaporean conglomerate has agreed to join the Central Queensland hydrogen (CQ-H2) project consortium, which is building a hydrogen production facility and other related infrastructure in Central Queensland.According to the company, the CQ-H2 project is one of Australia's largest green hydrogen projects, and the consortium includes Japan's Iwatani Corp, Kansai Electric Power, and Marubeni Corp, among others.Keppel also announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Australia's Incitec Pivot to help leverage the availability of large-scale, reliable green hydrogen supply from the CQ-H2 project in Gladstone, Queensland."This innovative international partnership with Keppel is one of several decarbonisation projects we are progressing as part of our ambition to be net zero by 2050," said Incitec CEO Jeanne Johns.According to Keppel, the MoU will look into the development of a green ammonia production facility in Queensland, Australia for both domestic and international consumption, as well as an end-to-end export supply chain to Singapore and Asia."Keppel's strong track record in developing and operating large-scale energy and environmental infrastructure, combined with the expertise and experience of our esteemed partners, will enable us to produce, store, and transport green hydrogen and ammonia in a safe, scalable, and cost-competitive manner for end-users in Australia, Singapore, and globally," Cindy Lim, CEO of Keppel's Infrastructure Division, said."We are delighted Keppel and Incitec Pivot have chosen Gladstone for their green ammonia production facility," Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick said, "This will open exciting and significant export possibilities, let alone regional jobs.
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