SCCI makes recommendations to boost public-private partnerships

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has made a number of recommendations to strengthen the emirate’s public-private partnerships, following the Cabinet’s recently approved decision to issue a federal law regulating partnerships between the federal authorities and the private sector in the UAE.

During its regular meeting held at the SCCI’s headquarters, the board of directors has ordered necessary arrangements to be put in place to fuel public-private sector partnerships, promote various business sectors in Sharjah, stimulate and attract further investments to the Emirate.

Chaired by Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI, the meeting was attended by Sheikh Majid Bin Faisal Bin Khalid Bin Khalid Al Qasimi, First Deputy Chairman of the Chamber, and Waleed Abdul Rahman Bukhatir, Second Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, SCCI, as well as other board members and Mohammad Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, SCCI’s Director-General.

Al Owais stressed the importance of the private sector, saying i has always been a key tenet of Sharjah’s and the UAE’s comprehensive development journey. “The issuance of a federal law regulating the partnership between the federal authorities and the private sector will certainly bring about positive outcomes that will not only promote Sharjah’s sustainable development but also accelerate growth rates in many sectors of the national economy,” he added.

Al Owais emphasised that the chamber is committed to fostering an integrated business environment that stimulates and advances public-private sector partnerships. “The SCCI takes great interest in representing the business community in the best way possible, while also encouraging it to enter into comprehensive development and economic partnerships that enhance Sharjah’s economy and contribute to realising some of the major objectives of Sharjah’s and the UAE’s development plans,” he stated.

For his part, Al Awadi noted that the Chamber, through its sectoral business groups, is making every effort to reinforce mutual cooperation between the business and public sector to help them overcome any possible obstacles while also taking advantage of available opportunities.

“Their constructive collaboration will undoubtedly yield in an integrated infrastructure and new opportunities that; in addition to satisfying the demands and ambitions of the various economic sectors, will promote the sustained growth of the emirate,” Al Awadi said.

During the meeting, the SCCI’s board of directors reviewed a number of indicators related to the private sector in Sharjah and recommended launching additional initiatives to boost economic progress and improve the sustainable performance of the private sector.

Over 33,000 issued and renewed licences: Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD) reviewed the most important developments and events witnessed by the economic sectors and the measures as well as efforts taken by the Department in all sectors and activities, during the first half of the current year 2022.

This was done to provide a comprehensive tool for dealers in the economic sectors in Sharjah and to familiarise them with the most important results achieved, in confirmation of its efforts aimed at achieving balanced and sustainable economic performance and promoting business continuity in various fields.

Commenting on that, Sultan Abdullah Bin Hadda Al Suwaidi, SEDD Chairman, said that the data issued by the department indicate a significant increase in the investment movement, especially in the issued licences, which are indicators for sustainable growth for the economy of Sharjah.

According to SEDD data, the total number of licences issued and renewed in Sharjah during the first half of this year increased by 33,157, with a growth rate of eight per cent over the same period in 2021. Thus, the licences issued during the first half of 2022 amounted to 3,858, compared to 3,526 in the first half of last year, with a growth rate of nine per cent. On the other hand, the total number of renewed licences during the same period reached 29,299, compared to 27,262 throughout the same period in 2021, a seven per cent growth rate.

Fahad Ahmed Al Khamiri, Director of Registration and Licencing Department at SEDD, stated that the data showed that the commercial licences topped others in terms of distribution according to the type of licences issued. Therefore, 2,248 licences were issued during the first half of 2022, followed by 1,273 professional licences, and 161 industrial licences. In fourth place, were 99 “Eitimad” licences, and 77 e-commerce licences in fifth in place.

Regarding renewed licences, commercial licences topped the list, reaching 18,992 during the first half of 2022, followed by 8,718 professional licences. Then there were 1,233 industrial licences, while Eitimad licences touched 306, whereas e-commerce licences amounted to 50.

On the other hand, Khalfan Al Herathi, Director of SEDD Branches, said that the department, in all its branches, completed 33,157 issued and renewed licences during the first half of 2022, according to the data on business licences issued and renewed in the department’s branches in the cities and regions of Sharjah.

The number of issued and renewed licences in Sharjah city reached 26,670 during the first half of this year. The Central Region branch came second with 3,753 licences, while Khor Fakkan branch hit 1,314. Kalba branch amounted to 1,140 licences, while Dibba Al Hisn branch reached 280 licences.