Director, Dubai Competitiveness Centre
Ms. Gayane Afrikian is the Director of Dubai Competitiveness Centre within the Dubai Economic Council, where she works on research, assessment and policy recommendations towards enhancing Dubai's global competitiveness. The Mandate of DEC is to advice the government of Dubai on economic strategies and policies that promote constantly improved business environment, higher productivity, favorable investment climate and overall working towards enhancing Dubai's global competitiveness.
Gayane Afrikian has 20 years of experience in the international scene particularly in economic development strategies and international development. She has been an Executive Director of “Samruk-Kazyna” Sovereign Wealth Fund of the Government of Kazakhstan, where she was working towards diversifying the economy of Kazakhstan through joint government and private sector investments. Ms. Afrikian has also served as the CEO of the newly launched National Competitiveness Council of Armenia, a governmental arm working towards enhancing the global competitiveness of the country.
Ms. Afrikian is a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School (MPA 2005), The London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE, ( MSc in Transitional Economies, 1996) and the Yerevan State University in Armenia (Ms in Journalism 1991). She has received several awards from Harvard University and other institutions for outstanding public service throughout her career in the international public service.
