Community Development Authority host Italian Ambassador
As part of its efforts to create a strong social framework in Dubai by benchmarking best practices from around the world, officials from the Community Development Authority (CDA) met recently with the Italian Ambassador to the UAE to draw lines of comparison between the social sectors and discuss means of cooperation in the future.
The CDA officials, headed by Dr. Maryam Mattar, Director General of the CDA, welcomed Italian Ambassador Paulo Dionisi at the CDA offices where they presented the new Authority’s vision of making Dubai an inspiring model of community well-being for everyone living in Dubai. The two parties also discussed Italy’s expertise in the social sector and ways of bringing Arab and European communities in Dubai closer together.
Dr. Mattar said, “At this stage in the CDA’s development it is important for us to draw upon the expertise of other successful social systems to maximize the efficiency of our own. Italy has a strong social sector with a powerful community feel among its citizens and this is something we want to replicate here. It is also very important for us to include the expatriate residents in Dubai in what we hope to be a cohesive community by continuously reaching out to them and cooperating with their embassies and consulates.”
It is noteworthy that the CDA aims to attain the goals of Dubai Strategic Plan 2015, declared by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum in February, 2007, by setting up and developing frameworks for social development. It will be specifically working towards enhancing social cohesion, social inclusion, social protection, empowerment and promoting the national identity.
