Abu Dhabi honoured 16 local companies with the country’s most prestigious industrial award for their high performance and efforts to develop industry.
The Sheikh Khalifa Industrial Award (SKIA), introduced in 1997 within Abu Dhabi’s industrialisation drive, attracted 42 firms involved in the production of building materials, foodstuffs, chemicals, furniture and other light products.
Two companies won the diamond award for 2003 while four factories got the gold award. Winning the silver awards were four other plants while six were given bronze.
The award constituted a strong incentive for the emirate’s industrial units to upgrade performance and improve products in order to face growing global competition amid collapsing international trade barriers.
“Our primary concern is to widen the sources of our national income ... the best way for us to do this is through the optimum use of our natural resources and the development of a diverse and sustainable industrial base,” said Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
‘This approach will ensure growth for our economy and the prosperity of our future generations ... we must therefore utilise our natural resources and continue sound industrial development to the very best of our ability,” Sheikh Khalifa said while addressing the gathering at the awards ceremony in Abu Dhabi.
The diamond award was given to Al Ain Vegetable Processing and Canning Factory and the Gulf Precast Company for their strong performance and continuous development.
The gold award went to Emirates National Chemicals Company LLC, Emirates Cement Factory, Galva Coat for Galvanising and Lighting Poles and Emirates Flour and Animal Feed Factory.
Abu Dhabi has pumped at least Dh8 billion ($2.17 billion) into nearly 220 factories producing chemicals, garments, foodstuffs, home appliances, building materials, machinery and equipment, electrical appliances and other products.
The investments account for nearly a quarter of the UAE’s total industrial capital of around Dh28 billion, pumped into more than 2,140 factories.
