Sharjah to reinforce its status as a premier global business destination

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) reiterated its commitment to enhancing cooperation and partnerships with global companies, investors, and business leaders.

It affirmed its goal to bolster economic relations between Sharjah’s business community and their global counterparts, supporting its expansion into regional and international markets, with the aim to facilitate trade exchanges and reinforce the emirate’s status as a premier global business destination.

The SCCI made this announcement at its ninth regular board meeting, where participants reviewed the Chamber’s key initiatives and achievements in the first half of 2024.

These achievements reaffirm SCCI’s commitment to fostering economic development within Sharjah, enhancing the private sector’s sustainable performance, and elevating the emirate’s status in the global business community.

Held at the Chamber’s headquarters, the meeting was headed by Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the SCCI, and attended by Waleed AbdelRahman BuKhatir, Second Vice Chairman of the SCCI Board of Directors and board members, and Mohammed Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Director-General of the SCCI.

Also present were Maryam Saif Al Shamsi, the Assistant Director-General for the Support Services Sector at SCCI, and Abdulaziz Mohammed Shattaf, the Assistant Director-General of the Communication and Business Sector at SCCI, along with several officials from the Sharjah Chamber’s affiliated entities.

During the meeting, the board showcased the SCCI’s key initiatives and achievements during the first half of 2024. They also discussed various agenda items, with a particular focus on updates to ongoing projects, including the infrastructure development project the Al Nahda (formerly known as Industrial Area 1) and the Industrial Areas 6 and 7.

The board also reviewed the outcomes of the Chamber’s international engagements and its successes in establishing cross-border economic partnerships, developing a foreign trade exchange system, and attracting investment.

The meeting also addressed some suggestions and proposals aimed at strengthening the exhibition sector’s role in propelling Sharjah’s economic development, expanding growth opportunities for various industries, and meeting the business community’s needs by providing platforms for showcasing products in line with global best practices.

HE Abdallah Sultan Al Owais said the Chamber has successfully achieved most of its strategic goals outlined in its 2022-2024 strategy. These goals include supporting the business sector, promoting positive practices leading to a sustainable economy, developing and diversifying Sharjah exports. Concurrently, the Chamber has also played a significant role in advancing infrastructure projects and diversifying investment opportunities.

He underscored the Chamber’s commitment to boosting the progress of sustainable economic development in Sharjah and creating an encouraging and stimulating investment environment for the business community. SCCI has provided outstanding services to the business sector and innovated several strategies to draw more investors to the emirate.

“As the emirate of Sharjah continues to bolster its economic relations globally, SCCI remains committed to supporting this direction. During the first half of this year, the Chamber signed eight agreements and memorandums of cooperation with local and international economic organisations. It also organised a trade mission to India and numerous business forums to explore investment opportunities and foster business partnerships between Sharjah’s private sector and global markets”, Al Owais added.

For his part, Mohammed Ahmed Amin Al Awadi emphasised that enhancing Sharjah’s status as a premier regional investment destination is a cornerstone of the SCCI’s 2024 strategy. The Chamber has focused on fostering cooperation with specialised entities, diplomatic missions, and official delegations.

During the first half of 2024, the Chamber held several meetings with more than 35 official, diplomatic, and trade delegations, organised more than 10 meetings with sectoral working groups and business leaders to explore future growth opportunities, and proposed strategies to strengthen the export system.

Additionally, it sought to bolster its presence at international economic and trade exhibitions and events, as it participated in 12 local conferences and forums.