Dubai, August 20 (WAM) - The Ministry of Finance organized the "Finance Youth" meeting under the slogan "We Build Today and Make Tomorrow", with a view to highlighting the role of youth in developing the government financial system, enhancing their participation in shaping the future, as well as reviewing the efforts made by the ministry in empowering national competencies and developing their skills and expertise so that they keep pace with developments in the financial sector and enhance their readiness for the future.

The meeting, which was held at the Ministry's headquarters in Dubai, was attended by His Excellency Mohammed bin Hadi Al-Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs; H.E. Yunus Haji Al-Khori, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Finance; H.E. Ali Abdullah Sharafi, Assistant Under-Secretary for International Financial Relations; and Fatima يوسف النقبي, Acting Assistant Under-Secretary for Support Services Sector, along with a number of department managers, officials and ministry employees.

In his speech, H.E. Yunus Haji Al-Khori stressed that youth are the main pillar in the UAE's vision for development and building the future, which has been embodied by the wise leadership through a clear approach based on empowering young people, investing in their capabilities, and giving them confidence and responsibility to contribute to the march of development and build the future. This approach has proven successful in preparing a generation of youth capable of taking responsibility, initiating action, dealing with change with confidence and ambition, and contributing effectively across various sectors and fields.

He said that the Ministry of Finance believes that young people are a key driver of development and innovation, noting that their experiences, ideas, and vision for the future contribute to strengthening the ministry’s ability to keep pace with changes and develop the financial work system in support of the country's developmental goals.

He added that the "Finance Youth" forum is an important platform for dialogue, interaction, and idea exchange, as well as an opportunity to listen to the visions and aspirations of young people, and discuss the challenges and opportunities that would enhance their role in creating impact and developing institutional work.

The Ministry of Finance continues its efforts to empower youth and develop national competencies through a number of innovative initiatives and programs that provide young people with opportunities for learning, development, and active participation in the workplace. Among these is the Youth Council of the Ministry of Finance, which provides a platform to enhance youth participation, listen to their ideas and proposals, and support their contribution to developing institutional work. There is also the "Money Leaders" initiative within the program of young financial advisers, as well as the ministry's efforts to open pathways for Emirati competencies to learn about job opportunities and development in international financial institutions, which enables young people to gain diverse experiences and learn about best practices and global experiences in the financial sector.

The forum witnessed the holding of an "Ask Leadership" session that provided a direct space for the ministry's youth to engage in dialogue, ask questions, and discuss ideas and challenges with leadership. The session covered a number of topics of interest to young people, and presented insights and guidance on opportunities for development and participation, as well as the role of youth in government work.

A youth dialogue session entitled "From Ambition to Impact: Youth in Finance Shaping the Future" was also held, which discussed young people's experiences, aspirations and visions for the future of work at the Ministry of Finance. The importance of providing them with opportunities to actively participate, take responsibility, and turn ideas into tangible results was highlighted. The session also discussed the importance of building a working environment that encourages dialogue, idea sharing, and innovation, in addition to the skills and expertise needed by young people in finance to keep up with rapid changes in the financial sector, including continuous learning, digital skills, leveraging artificial intelligence, flexibility and adaptability, and gaining local and international experience.

The conference concluded with the organization of a "Youth Innovation Lab", which provided an interactive space for thinking, sharing ideas, and working on developing innovative solutions and proposals. This encouraged young people to apply their knowledge and expertise in addressing challenges and turning ideas into applicable initiatives and solutions. The lab also aimed to enhance their role in supporting innovation and institutional development.