The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of State for Finance and Industry Khalfan Bin Kharbash has been appointed to the International Advisory Committee of the recently established Institute for Government Innovation at Harvard University, in recognition of his exceptional role in promoting innovative governance.
Kharbash is the first ever minister from the Arab world to be appointed to such a role through which he will help guide and shape the future direction of the Institute. “Dr. Kharbash has an exceptional track-record in the region as a promoter of innovative work in government,” said Hilary Rantisi, program associate of the Middle East Initiative of Harvard University.
“We believe that he will provide invaluable counsel to the Institute, particularly with regard to the fostering of sustainable partnerships between the public and private sector—an area where he has already played a critical role in the UAE.”
Rantisi said that the Institute is actively bringing on board “people who exemplify the challenge of implementing ‘best practices’ at the level of public administration,” adding that, “Dr. Kharbash very much fits this profile.”
On his formal acceptance of the position, Kharbash said: “It was indeed a privilege to be asked to join the Committee and I am very excited about the opportunity that this creates to share the UAE experience with others.”
“The various improvement programs being spearheaded by the federal government may serve as role models for other regional public administrations seeking to maximize the performance of government. At the Ministry of Finance and Industry we have accumulated valuable knowledge and expertise in this respect and I am honored that through my role as Advisor to the Institute, we will be able to share both.”
The activities of the Institute involve the promotion of innovation in government through both the generation of knowledge as well as the dissemination of ideas among scholars and practitioners throughout the world.
The core mission of the Institute is to generate and help disseminate important new ideas of innovations in government, to assist in the replication of these cutting edge practices of demonstrable effectiveness and to create an international community of practitioners in government innovation. It also fosters creative and effective government problems solving and strengthens governance around the world.
The recently founded International Advisory Committee that works in conjunction with the Harvard faculty advisors, comprises outstanding persons from many fields including public innovators, scholars, representatives of partner institutions and others who may have important contributions to make in thinking about its strategic choices and activities.
It will also periodically engage in a major agenda-setting exercise, establish broad priorities and review the activities undertaken by the Institute. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
