Top officials during the meeting.

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI), represented by Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber, received Avni Arifi, Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo to the UAE, to discuss means of strengthening the economic, commercial, and investment relations between the UAE and the Republic of Kosovo in a way that serves the interests of the business communities in both countries.

Held in the presence of Raghda Hamad Taryam, Board Member, Mohammed Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Director General of the SCCI, and a number of the Chamber officials, the meeting emphasized the importance of the ongoing communication between the two sides to further enhance bilateral cooperation, especially in agriculture, food, retail trade, and exhibitions.

Abdullah Sultan Al Owais said: “Sharjah is a perfect investment destination for Kosovan companies, where they have huge potential opportunities for cooperation with their counterparts in Sharjah, particularly in trade, manufacture, agriculture, tourism, and logistics, in addition to exploring new avenues for building long-term partnerships that serve the interests of both sides.”

 Al Owais added: “The UAE-Kosovo relationship has grown into an integrated economic partnership, which resulted in ground-breaking agreements on the avoidance of double taxation, and the protection and promotion of investment and civil aviation, among others, in addition to the UAE-Kosovo Economic Forum, which was organised by the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry, in cooperation with the SCCI and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, at the SCCI headquarters.”

Lauding the successful business model adopted by the UAE and the Emirate of Sharjah in dealing with the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic, Avni Arifi stressed his country’s willingness to enhance cooperation with the Emirate of Sharjah and get the most out of the UAE expertise in various business areas, calling the Emirati investors and businessmen to visit Kosovo and explore the diverse investment opportunities, especially in energy, agriculture, and infrastructure.

Earlier the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) welcomed a high-profile delegation from the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), led by the President of the Kenya Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Richard Nagatia, accompanied by a group of Kenyan businessmen operating in the food industry among other sectors.

The delegation was received by Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman, SCCI, in the presence of Nasir Musabeh Ahmed Al Tunaiji, Board member of the SCCI, Mohammed Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Director General of the SCCI, and Abdul Aziz Shattaf, SCCI Assistant General Director, Members Services Sector, and Director of Sharjah Exports Development Centre (SEDC).

The meeting touched on means of joint coordination to open a representation office for the Kenya National Chamber in the Emirate of Sharjah, to enhance bilateral relations and support business communities in the two friendly countries.

While welcoming the visiting delegation, Abdullah Sultan Al Owais underlined that Sharjah Chamber is keen to provide all the support for opening the Kenyan office, noting that this step would help underpin the strong relations between Sharjah and Kenya.

He pointed out that the companies operating in Sharjah could play a pivotal role in enhancing the bilateral economic cooperation by making use of the enormous opportunities for investment in Kenya, especially in the agriculture, infrastructure, and energy sectors, noting that the visits conducted by the Chamber to Nairobi over the past years aimed to maintain Sharjah’s position as a gateway to Africa for regional and global markets and enhance the Emirate’s presence in the emerging markets in Africa.

Dr Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, emphasised the importance of supporting the products of Emirati companies, expanding logistics networks and diversifying the state’s foreign markets, and launching initiatives that bolster the leading position of the private sector in the foreign trade.

Al Zeyoudi’s statements came on the sidelines of his recent visit to the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) to enhance the mutual cooperation and coordination in attracting foreign companies and investors to the country and to support the export business in the UAE.

Al Zeyoudi was accompanied by Juma Mohammed Al Kait, Assistant Undersecretary - Foreign Trade Affairs, Ministry of Economy, and was received by Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman, SCCI, Mohammed Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Director General of the SCCI, Maryam Saif Al Shamsi, Assistant General Director, Support Sector of the SCCI, Jamal Bu Zinjal, Head of SCCI Media Department, and a number of department directors.