Sharjah Chamber confirms its support for the external expansion of the business community

• Business meetings with more than 35 official, diplomatic and commercial delegations
• Organizing 10 meetings with sectoral working groups and businessmen
• Participation in 12 conferences and forums at the local level
• Abdullah Al Owais: Our efforts are continuing to enhance the economic development process

Sharjah: “Al Khaleej”

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry affirmed its keenness to enhance cooperation and partnerships with international companies, investors and businessmen, develop economic relations between the business community in the emirate and their counterparts in countries around the world, and support their external expansion in regional and international markets, with the aim of facilitating trade exchange and contributing to consolidating Sharjah’s position as a global destination for business communities.

This came during the ninth regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which was held at the Chamber’s headquarters, headed by Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and attended by Waleed Abdul Rahman Bu Khatir, Second Vice President of the Chamber, members of the Board of Directors, Mohammed Ahmed Amin Al Awadhi, Director General of the Chamber, Maryam Saif Al Shamsi, Assistant Director General of the Chamber for Support Services Sector, Abdul Aziz Al Shamsi, Assistant Director General for Communication and Business Sector, and a number of officials from the Chamber’s departments and agencies.

During the meeting, the most prominent work of the Sharjah Chamber during the first half of this year was reviewed, in addition to discussing a number of topics on the agenda, including the latest developments in the progress of work in developing the infrastructure of the Al Nahda Zone (formerly the First Industrial Zone) and the two industrial zones (the Sixth and Seventh). The Council was also briefed on the results of the Chamber’s international participations and its successes in establishing cross-border economic partnerships, developing the system of foreign trade exchange and attracting investment. It also discussed some of the proposed proposals in terms of enhancing the role of the exhibitions sector in driving the economy of the Emirate of Sharjah and opening more horizons for the growth of various sectors and meeting the aspirations of the business community to create platforms for displaying their products in accordance with the best international practices.

• Strategic targets

Abdullah Sultan Al Owais stressed that the Sharjah Chamber has succeeded in achieving most of its strategic objectives set according to its strategic plan for the period 2022-2024, which is represented in working to support the business sector and enhance its positive practices towards a sustainable economy and developing and diversifying the emirate’s exports, in conjunction with contributing to the development of infrastructure projects and diversifying investment. We continue, thanks to the wise vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and the diligent follow-up of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, to continue our efforts to enhance the economic position of the Emirate of Sharjah and improve its investment climate, so that Sharjah remains a major focal point for establishing successful investment projects.

• Strengthening partnerships

Al Owais pointed out the Chamber’s keenness to contribute to enhancing the economic development process witnessed by the Emirate of Sharjah, and to create an encouraging and stimulating investment environment for the business community by providing distinguished services that serve the business sector, and innovating means and methods that work to attract more investors to the emirate, adding: While the Emirate of Sharjah continues to strengthen its network of economic relations with all countries of the world, the Sharjah Chamber is keen to support this trend, as it signed 8 agreements and memoranda of cooperation with local and international economic entities and institutions during the first half of this year, in addition to organizing a trade mission to India and many business forums with the aim of exploring investment opportunities and promising business partnerships between the private sector in Sharjah and various countries of the world.

For his part, Mohammed Ahmed Amin Al Awadhi stressed that enhancing the position of the Emirate of Sharjah as a distinguished regional investment destination constituted a fundamental pillar in the Sharjah Chamber’s action plan for 2024 through its keenness to develop joint cooperation with specialized bodies, diplomatic missions and official delegations. The Chamber held business meetings with more than 35 official, diplomatic and commercial delegations, in addition to organizing more than 10 meetings with sectoral working groups and businessmen to explore future growth opportunities and propose strategies and visions to enhance the export system. The Chamber also sought to enhance its presence in international economic and trade exhibitions, events and activities, in addition to its participation in 12 conferences and forums at the local level.

• Promoting institutional excellence

During the meeting, the Chamber’s achievements in terms of enhancing the institutional excellence system and improving the quality of services it provides to its members were reviewed. The Chamber has obtained 4 international certificates in the fields of quality management system, business continuity, occupational health and safety, and the environment. In addition, the Sharjah Excellence Award has witnessed qualitative shifts in terms of the intensity of participation from the Emirati and Gulf business community, in addition to the achievements of the Sharjah Training and Development Center affiliated with the Sharjah Chamber, most notably the remarkable success of the Strategic Business Leadership Program and the positive results of the external tour of the program members in the Kingdom of Spain, in addition to the center’s training of more than 175 trainees from the public and private sectors, and more than 65 of the Chamber’s employees.

• Supporting entrepreneurs

In terms of the Sharjah Chamber’s efforts to develop a supportive and enabling environment for the growth and prosperity of entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprises, the Chamber opened a new headquarters for the Small and Medium Enterprises Center “Tijara 101” in Khorfakkan City, which includes 9 commercial offices and has witnessed, since its opening at the end of last April, the registration of 5 new members of entrepreneurs and owners of small and medium enterprises working in various economic sectors. The Chamber was also keen to support and facilitate the participation of Emirati entrepreneurs in international events and exhibitions, most notably the participation of the Emirati Goldsmiths Platform in the International Trade Fair for Handicrafts, which was held at the exhibition grounds in the Italian city of Florence.

• Social Responsibility

The Sharjah Chamber has made effective contributions in the field of social responsibility, within the framework of its strategy that aims to support the business sector and enhance its positive practices towards a sustainable economy, which culminated in the Sharjah Chamber receiving the Federal Community Impact Medal in the silver category, especially in light of its sponsorship of more than 16 economic, cultural and commercial events and activities during the first half of this year.

• Supporting the retail and tourism sector

During the meeting, the Council reviewed the performance of the branches of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Eastern and Central regions, the ongoing preparations for organizing the Al Dhaid Date Festival, and the positive repercussions of the Mango Festival. The work plan for the Sharjah Summer Offers Festival 2024, which was launched in cooperation with the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, and its expected results in terms of supporting the retail sector, enhancing marketing activity, and attracting tourists to the most prominent tourist destinations in the Emirate of Sharjah and its markets, were also reviewed.