Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways has signed a deal with the UAE’s Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) to join the in-country value or ICV programme. The move makes the carrier the first airline to do so, it said in a statement.
MoIAT is expanding the programme’s scope to include the aviation sector, as part of the national industrial strategy for economic sustenance and to raise the efficiency and competitiveness of the industrial sector, according to a statement from WAM.
By being a part of the programme, Etihad will now approach local supplies and UAE-based companies for procurement – aiming to create a strong local supply chain.
“As the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, we are committed to supporting local companies, and firmly believe it is important for private sector companies in the region to cooperate with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology across its innovative projects, which seek to achieve the UAE’s future ambitions,” Tony Douglas, the airline’s chief executive said.
The in-country value programme aims to increase the number of certified vendors from 5,000 to 7,300 companies and increase government expenditure on Emirati products and services from AED33 billion in 2020 to AED55 billion by 2025.
“The initiative encourages the growth of the industrial sector in the UAE, supports the creation of quality jobs, and provides incentives for companies to adopt advanced technologies. Certification is awarded based on criteria such as the value of spending and investment in the country, Emiratisation, and the adoption of advanced technology,” MoIAT’s Omar Suwaina Al Suwaidi said.
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