SEDD holds Series of Virtual Benchmarking Meetings

19-08-2021

Sharjah Economic Development Department “SEDD” holds number of virtual benchmarking meetings with various entities in the public and private sectors, and regional bodies and authorities outside the country. Such thing falls within SEDD’s benchmarking plan that aims to exchange experiences and knowledge as well as to discuss best practices in this field. The Strategic Planning and Performance Department at SEDD identifies the needs for the benchmarking meetings of the concerned departments and sections in accordance with the strategic objectives of the Department, organizes these plans. Benchmarking is the comparison with distinguished institutions in specific or similar fields to identify best practices at the local, regional or international level within or outside the same scope of work in order to benefit and improve performance indicators and develop strategic projects.

Commenting on that, HE Sultan Abdullah bin Hadda Al Suwaidi, SEDD Chairman, said that we work and strive constantly to develop performance and services according to the highest standards, in implementation of the rational leadership’s approach to excellence and creativity in all fields and services.

In addition, HE stressed that the exchange of virtual meetings enhances the various cooperation relations, accelerates the development processes of the mutual work system and finds outputs that serve all parties to advance the levels of service provided to investors. Such thing contributes to the country’s orientation towards building a strong and solid economy characterized by knowledge and sustainability and enhances its competitiveness at the global level.

From her side, Hanadi Al Muhairi, Director of Strategic Planning and Performance Department, confirmed that SEDD is preparing a report on the extent to which the meetings and visits to these departments and bodies are benefited from within the standard comparison plan and how to implement it in line with the department’s objectives. The results of the application are also monitored and its results measured against the previously set goals, in addition to empowering the Department by providing best practices.

Al Muhairi added that SEDD organized more than 24 virtual meetings during the first half of 2021, which contributed to reaching more than 60 outputs of standard comparisons distributed between (knowledge acquisition - improvement - and upgraded).

 

Virtual Meetings and Visits

SEDD organized a virtual meeting in addition to a field visit to Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council. During the meeting, cooperation and exchange of experiences of legal metrology services in the markets were discussed. Also, benchmark comparisons were conducted for two days at the Council headquarters to see the best procedures and practices in this field. In addition, the Council reviewed their role in enabling the infrastructure of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the partners, and the role of the consumer services sector and markets in its implementation. Likely, the Council displayed their organizational structure and the services it provides to the market and consumer services sector in the field of legal standards and ways of distributing services to sections and organizational units.

Also, SEDD held a benchmarking meeting with Smart Dubai Government in order to view the mechanism of collecting customer happiness indicators data and inquire about how to measure services through service centers, the website and the smartphone, and to measure customer satisfaction. The meeting also included reviewing the mechanism of the dashboard, through which votes are analyzed and data displayed according to the results and how to extract reports, and learn about the mechanism of the main call center for all smart city services.

Furthermore, the Department, represented by Sharjah Foundation to Support Pioneering Entrepreneurs (RUWAD), also organized a virtual meeting at the regional level with the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It aimed at reviewing the best practices in the field of entrepreneurship training, discussing ways of cooperation in implementing training plans, and identifying financing solutions that aim to reduce financing costs in terms of rates and benefits for small and medium enterprises. Likely, it sought at identifying the practical and theoretical training programs for entrepreneurs and labor cadres in the project that need development and improvement to reduce errors.

Moreover, SEDD held a meeting with Ministry of Planning and Economic Development in Egypt to identify mechanism of preparing and approving the investment plan, how to attract investors, evaluate investment projects, and development plans for the economic sectors. Also, the meeting helped to discuss objectives, policies and programs for the development of the industrial sector. In addition, the most prominent development projects and indicators for measuring their performance, mechanisms of partnership with the private sector and success stories in financing for development initiatives, are also learned, and the most important periodic reports and indicators and how to prepare them.