Majra – National CSR Fund hosts innovative workshop to advance UAE's sustainability vision for private sector
MAJRA – National CSR Fund hosted recently the 'National Sustainability Strategy Workshop', convening professionals from federal and local governments, private sector corporates and non-profit. to collaboratively shape a comprehensive sustainability strategy for the private sector. This marks a significant milestone in the UAE's commitment in including all stakeholders to ensure the private sector's the national sustainability strategy is consistent with the aspirations of the wise leadership.
H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Majra, stated: 'Sustainability is no longer a distant goal, rather, a strategic imperative driving the growth of diverse sectors. In such a scenario, the 'National Sustainability Strategy Workshop' for private sector plays an important role in uniting stakeholders to drive transformative change and establish a new 'impact economy' that integrates economic vision with elements of corporate citizenship, community responsibility, and transparency. Robust collaboration is integral to the success of such workshops as the final strategy is co-designed with the participants' collective expertise.'
Sarah Shaw, CEO of Majra, said: 'The workshop helped convene leading thought leaders and change makers across various industries with an aim to develop a visionary strategy that is both inclusive and avant-garde. It primarily focused on fostering meaningful dialogues to create a practical methodology that integrates economic, environmental, social and governance priorities under a unified national vision For sustainability and community responsibility in the private sector.. Furthermore, strategic objectives and KPIs introduced as a part of the workshop will help track progress and ensure maximum impact, aligning with the objectives of federal and local entities.'
The high-level, interactive workshop followed a structured agenda included, principles, vision formulation, strategic framework development, strategic initiatives and objectives, current state assessment, as well as a conclusion session focused on summarising key outcomes and outlining agreements for future actions. Moreover, participants were segregated into working groups representing diverse sectors, to facilitate robust collaboration and insight sharing. Participants were also encouraged to engage openly and contribute towards fostering a highly resilient, inclusive, transparent, as well as impactful nation.
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Majra – National CSR Fund honours top 20 CSR projects at inaugural Sustainable Impact Challenge 2025 - Middle East Business News and Information
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Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of Majra's Board of Trustees, alongside prominent figures, such as H.E. Hessa Bint Essa Buhumaid, Director General of the Community Development Authority, the event celebrated innovative initiatives that created tangible impact in the nation's sustainability landscape. H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri said: 'The UAE is deeply committed toward developing national strategies and programs that uphold social responsibility and encourage sustainable practices across all sectors. At Majra, we are pleased to play a key role in this effort by fostering collaboration and building strong partnerships with the private sector. The launch of the first edition of the Sustainable Impact Challenge, which will be held annually, reflects our mission to instil corporate CSR values and nurture a culture of sustainable development. Through this initiative, we aim to support impactful private sector projects that align with the national agenda, contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and promote responsible business practices. This is in line with our broader commitment to shaping a more resilient and sustainable future in accordance with the 'We the UAE 2031' vision.' The Sustainable Impact Challenge is a national platform designed to identify and celebrate outstanding CSR initiatives led by private sector companies, third-sector organisations, universities, and other institutions. It reflects Majra's firm dedication to empowering these vital contributors and directing their efforts toward sustainable development. By recognising impactful initiatives, the Challenge further supports the UAE's broader national drive to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promotes the adoption of CSR and sustainability practices across all major sectors. In her speech, H.E. Hessa Buhumaid affirmed the pivotal role played by Majra through the launching of such CSR initiatives and the identification of effective private sector leadership that would enhance social impact. H.E. highlighted the importance of this Challenge as the first initiative showcasing projects with significant environmental, economic, and social impact in conjunction with the prestigious 'Year of Community' program. Her Excellency praised the efforts of the third sector in providing valuable contributions and actively tackling social, environmental, and economic issues. The top three winners included HeroGo, for its project 'Empowering the GCC to access better quality and more affordable groceries while eliminating food waste'; Thiqa Education's '1 Dirham makes an impact' initiative; and Distant Imagery Solutions' 'Rooted in Innovation UAE Engineered Drones Transform Mangrove Restoration' initiative. Together, they were awarded a total cash prize of AED 600,000 in recognition of their exceptional contributions to sustainable development in the UAE. Additionally, the other shortlisted sustainability initiatives were acknowledged for their outstanding efforts and given the opportunity to showcase their project outcomes. Sarah Shaw, CEO of Majra, said: 'We are delighted to identify and honour the innovative, impactful projects through the Sustainable Impact Challenge 2025. These initiatives highlight the pivotal role of private sector firms in driving sustainable change. At Majra, we look forward to relentlessly supporting such efforts that contribute to the UAE's vision for a sustainable, inclusive and resilient future.' On the sidelines of the event, several sessions and meetings were held to reinforce Majra's lead role in fostering sustainability in various industries. A key session at the event featured H.E. Abdullah Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy and Vice Chairman of Majra's Board of Trustees, along with undersecretaries from five ministries to discuss the main challenges that hinder the advancement of social responsibility in the UAE. Key issues highlighted included the lack of opportunities that encourage private sector involvement, ongoing environmental hurdles and ways to find adequate solutions, and the need for stronger regulatory frameworks that require organisations to implement CSR practices. Another key session titled, 'The Role of Public, Private and Third Sector in Developing an Impact Economy,' explored the importance of cross-sector collaboration in building a sustainable economy. The panel featured thought leaders including Dr. Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson and Co-Founder, Emirates Environmental Group, Chandran Nair, Founder and CEO, Global Institute For Tomorrow (GIFT) and H.E. Maysa Al Nowais, Executive Director – Community Engagement and Volunteering, Social Contributions Authority – Ma'an. The session was moderated by Mohammed Hanif Al Qassim. The event also hosted the inaugural meeting of the Fashion Sustainability Taskforce, held in the presence of H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri. The meeting laid the groundwork for future collaboration and set the direction for a unified roadmap to promote sustainability within the fashion industry. The Sustainable Impact Challenge 2025 stands as a testament to Majra's unwavering commitment towards establishing a thriving ecosystem that encourages and supports CSR initiatives in line with the UAE's strategic development goals.
Mid East Info
27-05-2025
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Etihad Credit Insurance achieves AED 16.2 billion in insured turnover with a 15.7% growth in more than 100 countries across 17 strategic sectors
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This is reflected in ECI's strong performance in 2024, which not only underscores its pivotal role in enabling the national export competitiveness but also its commitment to empowering businesses with the tools and confidence to expand into new global markets. A key milestone for us in 2024 was the launch of Xport Xponential, a comprehensive program designed to support UAE-based companies. This new strategic initiative aligns with our commitment to increasing ECI's contribution to the non-oil GDP by 7-fold by 2031.' H.E. Al Mazrouei also reaffirmed ECI's dedication to clean and green energy initiatives in line with the UAE's sustainability commitments and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 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This structure is backed by nine reinsurers rated 'A' and above, reaffirming ECI's robust reinsurance treaty. The report also highlighted ECI's commitment to supporting clients beyond credit insurance. This commitment was demonstrated by the company's effective handling of overdue payments, which resulted in the collection of AED 158 million from overdue payments, achieving collection success rate of 77 percent. With this, the total debt collected by ECI since its inception has risen to AED 528 million, an 87 per cent recovery success rate. The report further detailed the composition of ECI's portfolio, noting that 70 percent of its exposure lies in Short-Term Credit Insurance (ST), which supports high-frequency trade cycles, particularly in manufacturing, ICT, and agri-exports. Medium and Long-Term (MLT) commitments account for 17 percent of the portfolio, highlighting ECI's growing involvement in infrastructure, energy, and other capital-intensive sectors. The remaining 13 percent is dedicated to Political Risk Insurance (PRI). In terms of geographic distribution, the report identified Saudi Arabia as ECI's largest export market within the Gulf and wider MENA region, accounting for 7 per cent of the company's total exposure. ECI also provided notable coverage for exports to Egypt, Oman, Qatar, and Bahrain, highlighting the strength of intra-regional trade. Beyond the Middle East, ECI supported significant trade flows to leading Asian economies such as India and Singapore, while also facilitating UAE exports to Europe – including the UK and EU – and America. Furthermore, ECI signed around 28 agreements with government export credit agencies worldwide, including US EXIM, Korea Eximbank, Sinosure, BPI France, solidifying ECI's position as a trusted partner for international trade. Finally, the report also outlined ECI's plans to leverage the UAE's Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) to further enhance trade and strengthen commercial relations. These efforts will be supported by ECI's expanding information database, which grants access to over 400 million corporates globally, empowering UAE-based exporters with valuable insights and intelligence.
Mid East Info
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Majra–National CSR Fund hosts new ‘Impact Lab' session, highlighting key climate action and sustainability advancements in UAE
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