Deputy Director of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry

ultan Al Mansouri was one of the first of his generation to enter public life here in the Emirates. Unlike previous generations who had to work from an early age, Sultan Al Mansouri's generation were able to benefit from the opportunities of education brought about by the discovery of oil.

Al Mansouri was the first director general of the Dubai Cargo Village, nurturing it from infancy into it's present position as one of the major air cargo hubs of the world. Today, he holds the position of director general of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Al Shindagah had the privilege of meeting him to discuss his perspective on the social and economic structure of the country and his hopes for the future.

You have the handicap of being part of a generation accused of impetuousness by its elders. How do you respond to this?

This is true, but it is a natural reaction. We have to remember that this is a cycle, and that our critics of today, were the rebels of yesterday! My generation has a zest for living, enthusiasm for work, and an awareness of our duty. These are our strengths.

The accusation of impetuousness is unkind and off the mark. At this point in time our generation has a strong educational foundation along with vast and varied experiences which enables us to visualise ideas which can be seen through to fruition. Of course there are times when the reality bears no resemblance to the illusion, but we have to take this in our stride and move on. You learn by your mistakes. Therefore 'impetuousness' as you call it is an integral part of the equation.

The Dubai Shopping Festival is a good example of this. At its inception, the criticism levelled at it was overwhelming. Of course there were mistakes in implementing such an ambitious project but the initiative was taken and it was a generally accepted success, which was commendable for a first attempt. It fulfilled all it set out to do - made Dubai synonymous with good quality merchandise, promoted the trading name of Dubai and projected a positive image. It's success now means traders who participated in the first festival are clamouring to enlist for subsequent festivals, which is encouraging to the organisers.

The economy of the country has grown by leaps and bounds. Are you fearful that perhaps this might in some way endanger the society we live in and give rise to socio-economic problems?

Everything has a price. The benefits of our economic growth have been manifold- higher education, job prospects, and the 'opening of minds'. We have a more cosmopolitan outlook and it is up to us to judge what is best for our situation, and to give all things detrimental to our society a wide berth. Our exposure to the rest of the world means we can learn a great deal from others while at the same time not relinquishing our own individuality, customs, traditions and ethics. We have to prepare for future generations to actively run the nation and a sound education, family values and wisdom must surely form the foundation.

What do you see as the greatest threat to the economy in the UAE, and what would be your priorities?

Inflation! We must control it and study how best we can do this without endangering foreign investment.

What direction will the future economy of the UAE take?

Some commercial sectors are saturated, as in the electronics market. Export and re-export will be of paramount importance to this sector in the immediate future. The service industries will rise to meet international standards; the tourist industry will fluctuate as it is reliant on factors that are beyond our control such as climate, the state of the world economy, international politics and many other variables. We must therefore focus on industrialization. Our wealth comes from oil and there are infinite possibilities for development in the petro - chemical sectors. These could be managed by the public sector as oil products play such a vital role. The medium scale industries will expand simply because of the availability of capital, labour and raw materials.

The UAE economy has been mainly run by 'family firms'. Will the fledgling industries you speak of have any chance of gaining a foothold, taking into account the fact that vast capital resources will be required before any project can take shape?

The recent successes of joint venture companies are encouraging, and can be a beacon for the future, not only giving the present economy a vital cash injection, but also allowing the country to surge forward much the same as Italy did when it's medium scale industries began to flourish.

Do you think that the Chamber's role meets the public expectations?

It depends on the issue. If as in the case of automobile parallel imports, we require the involvement and co-operation of several bodies, namely the Customs, legal agents, and the manufacturers themselves. Then the whole issue becomes complex and a resolution takes time. But by and large, we do achieve what is expected of us.

On a personal level, what differences do you find between the positions you held at the Dubai Cargo Village and now hold at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry?

I was involved with the Dubai Cargo Village from the beginning. It was an enormous challenge but it was a project I had to make a success of, not just locally, but internationally too. We had no model to base it on and we sailed uncharted waters in the early days. Therefore it is of great pride and personal satisfaction to me, that we have not only been approached by developing countries for our expertise in this field, but the Air Cargo Forum has chosen Dubai as its venue later this year.

In my present position the possibilities are greatly enhanced. I still view it as a challenge, but with an establishment of this stature, the priorities differ, therefore we do not have as much to prove.

I am pleased and proud that I have had the privilege of not only making a valuable contribution to my country, but in return receiving as a direct result, the satisfaction of achievement, and a wealth of knowledge and experience.