Page 291 - MINISTRY OF CULTURE PR REPORT - MAY 2025 (ENGLISH)

5/27/25, 8:28 AM 'Make it in the Emirates' concludes with new industrial projects valued over Dh11 billion - Aletihad News Center
provide over Dh40 billion in competitive financing over five years.

This initiative will support small, medium, and emerging enterprises and innovative projects that strengthen the
industrial sector and enhance the competitiveness of locally manufactured products.

Additionally, Emirates Development Bank launched the Emirates Growth Fund — an Dh1 billion investment platform
supporting SMEs in strategic sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, food security, and advanced technology.

On opening day, MoIAT recognized the winners of the third Make it in the Emirates Awards. This year’s nine award
categories spanned five pillars: Factory of the Future, In-Country Value, Industry Enablers and Strategic Partners,
Leadership and Talent, and UAE Traditional Crafts for Individual and Companies. For the first time, an Emirati
Handicrafts Award was introduced to honor individuals and companies in this sector.

The ministry also marked National ICV Day by celebrating the contributions of companies and individuals supporting
the National In-Country Value Program, recognizing their role in driving local competitiveness, productivity, and supply
chain sustainability.

Winners of the third Make it in the Emirates Startup Pitch Competition were also honoured. The competition received
more than 200 applications from over 30 countries, with 43% submitted by international startups — a testament to the
growing interest both locally and globally.

For the first time, the platform featured a dedicated pavilion for Emirati crafts and heritage industries, organized by the
Ministry of Culture as part of the Year of the Community.

The pavilion hosted live demonstrations of 40 traditional crafts across 10 zones, with participation from 216 Emirati
artisans. Their involvement this year enabled them to expand their presence on e-commerce platforms and bring their
products to global markets — turning heritage into economic opportunity.

National In-Country Value (ICV) Programme

The 2025 edition recorded a rise in industrial procurement under the National ICV Program, reaching Dh168 billion —
up from Dh143 billion in the previous edition.

The program now covers 4,800 locally manufacturable products. This year, new procurement agreements worth Dh1.3
billion were signed.

On Day 2, MoIAT signed MoUs with entities including Emaar, Silal, Calidus, and Modon Holding to join the National
ICV Program. This brings the total number of participating companies and entities to 35.

Launched under the UAE’s Projects of the 50, the program channels procurement by government and major national
companies into the local economy, stimulating industrial and service sectors. By the end of 2024, cumulative local
spending under the program reached Dh347 billion.

On the sidelines of the event, the ministry launched the Global Startup Exchange Program, connecting UAE and
international startups to new markets, incubators, and investors. The first pilot, developed in collaboration with Japan,
sets the stage for broader international expansion — opening new pathways for growth-stage, technology-focused

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