Business Bureau, Gulf Today

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) will organise the UAE-Russia Forum from September 3 – 6, 2019 in Russia. The SCCI delegation will be headed by Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, SCCI’s Chairman accompanied by Sheikh Majid Faisal Khalid Al Qasemi, SCCI’s First Vice Chairman, Jamal Bu Zinjal, Head of Media Department, SCCI, Jassim Al-Mutawa, Consultant of Relations with the Commonwealth of Independent States, Lamia Abdulrahman Al Jasmi, Senior Executive of National Industries Development, Sultan Abdullah Al Ali, National Industries Development Executive, Sharjah Export Development Center and representatives from the private sector in the Emirate of Sharjah.

The forum aims to explore and showcase the new investment opportunities in both countries, as well as to contribute to enhancing trade exchange and discuss areas of joint cooperation. This comes as part of the SCCI’s role towards serving the business community and enhancing their business and activities, in addition to developing the export of productive facilities in Sharjah.

Abdul Aziz Shattaf, SCCI’s Assistant General Director, Members Services Sector and Director of Sharjah Export Development Center, said: “This Forum comes two years after the organisation of the (Sharjah-Russia) Forum. This reflects the SCCI’s strategy in providing a competitive environment that helps develop the work of the private sector and SCCI members to identify available opportunities and discuss the possibility of establishing an investment partnership to find new markets for local industry products.

He pointed out that these meetings between the representatives of the private sector from both sides will play a constructive and effective role to discuss and consider the establishment of projects that serve the efforts of the economic and commercial bodies in both countries.

Shattaf explained that the programme of the forum includes meetings in Moscow and St. Petersburg in cooperation with the Chambers of Commerce and Industry in the two Russian cities.

The SCCI will seize this opportunity to highlight the promising investment climate in the Emirate of Sharjah, in addition to showcasing the investment opportunities in various sectors for Russian businessmen who are willing to invest in Sharjah through the establishment of projects serving those sectors.

Moreover, the representatives of the private sector companies participating in the forum will showcase the services and activities of their companies as part of their promotional efforts. The forum will also witness the signing of a cooperation agreement between the chamber and the Russian business organisation.

Worth mentioning that the SCCI organised, in cooperation with the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority “Shurooq”, Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority, and a number of commercial and industrial companies in Sharjah, the Sharjah – Russia Forum, which was held in Moscow and St. Petersburg, with an aim of strengthening economic cooperation in addition to exploring areas of joint investment between businessmen on both sides.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry was established by an Amiri decree issued in 1970 by His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah in order to effectively and vitally participate in the organisation of economic life and the prosperity of its trade, industry and professions sectors on all levels and in cooperation with the concerned establishments and bodies and local departments.

Thus, the chamber is keen to include in its membership all the companies and establishments practicing economic activity in the emirate whether it is trade, industries or professions. It has been obligatory for the chamber to follow the economic and civilizational development witnessed by United Arab Emirates a matter that naturally requires change on the different services and activities of the chamber.

In 2003 the chamber witnessed quantum and qualitative leap represented in His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah issuing a new law organising the chamber and giving it wider fields and bigger jurisdictions in order to continue its route with positive contribution in all fields of economy and investment and to serve the community as a whole.

In 2007 the chamber’s new organisational chart was approved and an administrative and executive body was set with positions as per the responsibilities, duties and the nature of services, activities and jurisdictions in the departments, offices and sections in a manner coinciding with the new economic boom.

Since 1980 the services and activities of the chamber has covers all cities in Sharjah City and accordingly the chamber in addition to the head office has four branches in the cities of Khorfakkan, Kalba, Al Dhaid, central area and Dibbs Al Hisn in addition to offices and services of the chamber in the model industrial area and the head office of Sharjah Economic Development Department and Sharjah free zones. There are also many other affiliate establishments and organizations working under the chamber’s umbrella.