Page 22 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2022

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

e& Becomes the First UAE Private Sector Entity to Join the UAE Independent
Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA)

In line with its ambitions to become and pushing forward with our goals to we will create an action group that will
a regional leader in climate action, e& preserve natural ecosystems for future drive implementation of sustainability-
(formerly known as Etisalat Group), generations.” Sheikha Shamma concluded based solutions in UAE’s ICT industry.”
the global technology and investment by stating: “This marks the beginning of UICCA is a non-partisan climate
conglomerate signed a significant the UICCA’s concentrated efforts towards action entity that functions as a think
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) supporting the UAE’s sustainable solutions tank, providing evidence-based policy
with the UAE Independent Climate Change commitment, as well as the acclaimed recommendations on climate action to
Accelerators (UICCA), at the UAE Pavilion, actions and efforts that have already been both the public and private sector. Working
as part of its participation at COP27, the undertaken by the Egyptian presidency across sectors industry groups UICCA will
27th Conference of the Parties of the as part of our concerted efforts towards actively work to build industry coalitions to
UNFCCC, currently taking place in Egypt. the ‘Decade for Action”. “I sincerely look facilitate the region’s transition to a green
The strategic partnership marks e&’s forward to working in close cohesion economy through activities that stimulate
stance as the first entity from the UAE’s with all of our peers within the global GDP growth, increase job creation, and
private sector to join the UICCA. The sustainability community and achieving reinforce UAE’s position as a global hub
move reaffirms the group’s commitment tangible outcomes here at COP27 and for best practices in Environmental, Social
towards the climate action efforts led by COP28 UAE.” “Sustainability is at the heart and Governance (ESG). Etisalat Group had
the Group while supporting the transition of everything we do, and we believe that changed its brand identity to e&, effective
to a greener economy. Sheikha Shamma tangible sustainable goals are essential from 23 February 2022. Its strategy aims
bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, to ensure a better future for generations to to accelerate growth through the creation
Executive Director of UICCA, said: “As come” said Hatem Dowidar, Group CEO, e&. of a resilient business model representing
the driving force towards actualizing the “Today, we have taken an important step the Group’s main business pillars. The
UAE’s commitment to net zero by 2050, forward in visualizing our sustainability telecoms business currently continues to
UICCA’s mission is to enable and energize strategy and supporting the UAE’s net be led by etisalat by e& in the UAE which is
an ecosystem of public and private entities zero climate action ambitions, and we its home market and by e& international in
that have shared values and a joint vision remain confident that the signing of the the global markets, upholding the Group’s
of building a sustainable future.” Sheikha MoU will become a catalyst for making rich telecoms heritage, bolstering the
Shamma added: “Today’s signing with the difference as we inspire and motivate strong telecoms network and maximizing
e& at COP27, as the first private sector other corporates and organizations value for the Group’s various customer
entity to join the UICCA, is a tremendous to drive the necessary change.” “The segments. Ramping up the digital services
achievement that depicts our progress telecoms sector has always been a key for individual customers to elevate their
towards our climate action aspirations, enabler for other sectors to achieve their digital-first lifestyle, e& life brings next-
and we look forward to partnering together sustainability goals. Together with UICCA, generation technologies through smart

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