Financial intelligence in manufacturing
How manufacturers can build resilience through smarter capital strategy
This article is the second in a series that captures key highlights from the Strategic Forum for Finance and Industrial Leaders jointly held by Mashreq and MEED on October 30, discussing how growth in the manufacturing sector will depend on pairing technology adoption with more agile and intelligent capital planning
The past few years have marked a turning point for industrial manufacturers in the region.
As regional industries scale up and localise production, the focus has shifted from volume growth to financial resilience, ensuring that expansion, technology and supply chains remain sustainable in a volatile global economy.
This transition is being reinforced by the UAE’s industrial strategy, including Operation 300bn and the Technology Transformation Programme, which provides a powerful framework for digital investment and localisation.
Yet the success of these ambitions ultimately depends on how effectively manufacturers deploy capital, manage liquidity and strengthen financial agility.
“When it comes to decision making – be it around digital transformation, sourcing or any other strategic matter – finance must have a seat at the table,” said Joe-Frank Thanjan, finance director FP&A farming at Al-Dahra Holding, when speaking in a personal capacity during the Mashreq MEED Strategic Forum for Finance & Industrial Leaders in Manufacturing held in late October.
At the event, industry leaders and banking executives examined how regional manufacturers are aligning financial planning with automation, supply-chain resilience and localisation goals. Their discussion highlighted a clear shift in thinking: financial intelligence, not merely access to funding, will define the competitiveness of the next generation of the industry.
