His Excellency Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman, met with a number of entrepreneurs at the Emirates Jewelers platform and the Emiratis platform for Oud and Perfumes, which were launched by the Chamber during the Middle East Watch and Jewelry Exhibition, and the Emirates Perfumes and Oud Exhibition, with the aim of supporting entrepreneurs, young Emirati talents, and SMEs entrepreneurs working in the field of perfumes, design and manufacture of gold and jewelry.

During the meeting, His Excellency Al Owais was briefed on the results of their participation in the two events and their importance in developing their businesses, enhancing their expertise and promoting their products, stressing the Chamber’s keenness to provide all forms of support to entrepreneurs and encourage those wishing to join this pioneering initiative and develop their projects. The participants expressed their thanks to Sharjah Chamber for its continued support and providing them with the opportunity to participate in the exhibitions, and the courses and workshops provided by the Chamber during the two events, which contributed to enhancing their professional experiences, in addition to the facilities it provides to enhance their participation in external exhibitions and courses.

A delegation from Sharjah Chamber, headed by Ibrahim Rashid Al Jarwan, Director of the Economic Relations Department, Jamal Saeed Buznjal, Director of the Corporate Communications Department, and Mohammed Al Khayal from the Public Relations Department, recently visited the Arabian Travel Market exhibition, held 1 - 4 May, 2023, at the Dubai World Trade Center in its thirtieth edition.

The delegation visited a number of platforms for local and international bodies and was briefed on the tourism, promotional and entertainment offers presented. The tour included a stop at the Sharjah pavilion to learn about the possibility of future cooperation in promoting events organized by the Chamber throughout the year and aimed at encouraging travelers to visit the Emirate, in cooperation with the tourism sector, as the Chamber is always present through promotional platforms at fairs and events organized by it and aimed to stimulate the economic and tourism movement and contribute to increasing visitors to shopping centers and niche markets with offers and promotional and entertainment activities available for visitors.

The Chamber's delegation also visited a number of local and regional airline platforms, during which they met with their respective representatives to learn about their missions and the possibility of cooperation and mutual benefit from services offered in the future for the common interest.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), represented by the Emirati Goldsmiths Platform, has successfully wrapped up its participation at the International Handicrafts Trade Fair (MIDA) held in Florence, Italy, from April 24 to May 2.

The event showcased skilled designers specializing in creating a variety of handicrafts, including accessories, jewelry, and fashion items, from diverse cultures across the globe.

Mona Sultan Al Suwaidi, Director of the Executive Office of the SCCI’s Chairman and the person responsible for the Emirati Goldsmiths platform, headed the Chamber’s delegation that featured six Emirati designers.

During the event, the Emirati designers took part in a showcase of their latest innovative collections of gold and diamond jewelry, which included unique heritage designs featuring a variety of precious metals and stones, such as pearls. Each piece bore a unique imprint, featuring exquisite colors and shapes.

"MIDA is a prestigious event that has been around for many years since 1931, and we are proud to have had the opportunity to participate in it. This event holds a remarkable heritage and plays a pivotal role in the economic, social, and cultural domains globally, by bringing together the most prestigious international design houses, experts, and specialists in gold, jewelry, and handicrafts. The Sharjah Chamber has been keen to engage the platform in the exhibition to support young Emirati talents in the jewelry design industry and showcase their artistic exhibits in this significant event," Mona Al Suwaidi said.

"This fair provided a unique opportunity for Emirati designers to communicate with the world, display their designs of gold and jewelry, and blend contemporary and traditional styles from their Emirati heritage with Arab originality." "Visitors to the exhibition will witness the quality and craftsmanship of Emirati designers and their exceptional artistic creations," Al Suwaidi added.

Al Suwaidi noted that the SCCI's participation was highly successful and proved to be a valuable experience for the designers, who gained new insights and ideas in the field of design through their participation in various specialized workshops organized within the exhibition. During these workshops, they learned about the latest techniques in crafting, designing, and manufacturing gold and jewelry from a group of senior international designers.

"The workshops covered a range of topics, including the installation of stones using advanced technologies and how to incorporate different metals to provide more innovative designs. The designers also showcased their creativity to the exhibition visitors, who were impressed by their skills and the quality of their diverse and aesthetically pleasing products. This reflects the importance of their contributions to the precious creative industries," she further said.

The Emirati Goldsmiths platform, which was established by the Chamber a few years ago, aims to provide small and medium-sized business owners and entrepreneurs with more opportunities and resources to fulfill their important roles in Sharjah's economy.

The 33rd annual Sharjah Ramadan Festival, curated by Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), has continued to captivate residents and visitors of Sharjah with its exceptional lineup of events and entertainment activities, transforming the shopping centers across the emirate into a vibrant hub of activity.

As citizens and residents eagerly anticipate the upcoming Eid Al Fitr festivities, the festival has injected a palpable sense of excitement, offering a host of delightful surprises and captivating experiences for all to enjoy. This will enhance Sharjah's position as a preferred tourist and shopping destination during the Eid Al Fitr holiday.

As the final week of Ramadan commenced, families flocked to the markets in droves, eagerly stocking up on supplies and completing their preparations for the highly anticipated Eid Al-Fitr celebrations. Shopping centers and shops participating in the Sharjah Ramadan Festival have seen unprecedented activity, with customers rushing to take advantage of discounts of over 75% on goods and exceptional fun all against a festive backdrop.

As the Eid Al-Fitr celebrations approach, many malls are gearing up to offer shoppers a chance to win grand prizes and daily rewards. In addition to the exciting prize draws, families and children will be treated to a host of fun activities, catering to their entertainment and shopping needs with promotions.

Jamal Bouzanjal, Director of the Corporate Communication Department, emphasized that the Chamber is committed to collaborating with its partners from shopping malls and other participants in the festival and will facilitate their participation.

For her part, Hana Al Suwaidi, Head of SCCI's Festival and Shows Section, asserted that the Sharjah Ramadan Festival has sponsored various sports and community events specifically for the holy month. This initiative reflects the Chamber's deep commitment to fostering strong partnerships with its stakeholders and promoting the values of social responsibility, which are among the core objectives of the festival.

The 33rd edition of the Sharjah Ramadan Festival 2023 has kicked off  and will continue until 25th April, in various cities and regions of the Emirate of Sharjah.

Organised by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), this year's edition is held under the theme "Ramadan: Together We Make It More Memorable".

Over the course of 35 days, residents and visitors from the UAE and around the world will have the opportunity to experience entertainment events, shopping experiences, promotions, and valuable prizes, as well as major discounts at shopping malls. The festival offers discounts from the largest stores of the most famous international brands in Sharjah, as well as hotel packages and wonderful entertainment destinations.

During the Sharjah Ramadan Festival, hundreds of brands in the emirate's malls will offer discounts ranging from 25 to 75 percent. The world's leading brands will also offer unbeatable discounts and give customers the opportunity to get unprecedented deals at shopping malls and destinations in Sharjah. Shoppers can also enjoy a selection of deals and offers during the festival.

Mohammad Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Director-General, expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming Sharjah Ramadan Festival, stating that SCCI is committed to ensuring the festival's continued success and excellence.

He added that this year's festival aims to provide unique and distinctive experiences for residents and visitors of Sharjah, promoting the emirate's economic, social, cultural, and tourism status.

"The festival will not only contribute to strengthening the local economy, activating commercial movement in the markets, but will also support the growth of investment in all sectors and fields," Al Awadi said, underscoring the importance of preserving the values, traditions, and authentic heritage of UAE society while developing promotional campaigns.

For his part, Ibrahim Rashid Al Jarwan, Director of Economic Relations and Marketing and General Coordinator of the Festival, stressed that the Chamber has worked closely with partners in various sectors to ensure the provision of a unique and unforgettable experience for all shoppers during the festival.

He emphasised that the event will significantly enhance Sharjah's position as one of the world's favourite destinations during the holy month of Ramadan, due to its spiritual atmosphere and social manifestations. In addition, the festival will feature exceptional entertainment events that will take place across the emirate, as well as amazing promotions and prizes for shoppers throughout the holy month.

Meanwhile, Jamal Saeed Buzangal, Director of the Media Department at the Chamber, urged everyone to take part in the Sharjah Ramadan Festival 2023 and discover its unique experiences. He also underscored that a large number of participating shopping malls and shops have surprises in store, along with Ramadan events to be launched by distinguished tourist destinations in the emirate.

Moreover, a variety of activities will be organised to cater to different segments of society and meet their needs. He expressed his gratitude to partners from both the public and private sectors for their contribution in providing support and various offers that will enrich the experience of festival guests of different age groups.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, honoured at the Sharjah Expo Centre winners of the Sharjah Excellence Award (SEA 2022), with its various categories for institutions and individuals, locally and regionally. Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem also honoured the strategic partners and sponsors, the arbitration committees and the award team, in appreciation of their outstanding efforts in enhancing the award’s success in all stages.

Under the patronage of Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, witnessed the honouring ceremony of the winners of the Sharjah Excellence Award 2022, which was held on Wednesday evening at the Sharjah Expo Centre.

Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, Sharjah Police General Command, the National Program for Small and National Enterprises and Projects, Sharjah Capability Development - Tatweer, Sharjah International Commercial Arbitration Center ‘Tahkeem’, Sharjah Government Media Bureau, UAE BARQ, and Skyline University College were among the awarded bodies.

The honouring ceremony began with the UAE national anthem, followed by a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, after which the audience watched a video and documentary presentation about the Sharjah Award.

Abdullah Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Sharjah Award for Excellence, delivered a speech in which he expressed his thanks and appreciation to HH Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, lauding his follow-up to all the activities of the Sharjah Chamber and the award, promoting the approach of the Emirate of Sharjah in maintaining excellence and creativity. He also thanked Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, for attending the ceremony and honouring the winners.

Al Owais congratulated all the winners of the Award during this session, pointing out that the Sharjah Excellence Award has become one of the most prominent economic quality awards at the local and Gulf levels.

The honouring ceremony was attended by several sheikhs, dignitaries, a number of members of the Chamber’s Board of Directors and the Award’s Board of Trustees, a number of senior officials and diplomats accredited to the state, representatives of federations of UAE and Gulf chambers of commerce and industry, as well as a crowd of representatives of private sector companies and businessmen.

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, the meeting was attended by Sheikh Majid bin Faisal bin Khalid bin Khalid Al Qasimi, First Vice Chairman, Waleed Abdul Rahman Bukhatir, Second Vice Chairman, members of the board of directors and Mohammad Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Director-General.

Al Owais laid stress upon the private sector as key to 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 emphasized that the Chamber is committed to fostering an integrated business environment that stimulates and advances public-private sector partnerships. “Sharjah Chamber 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 realizing some of the major objectives of Sharjah’s and the UAE’s development plans,” he stated.

For his part, Al Awadi, Director General, noted that the Chamber, through its sectoral business groups, is making every effort to reinforce mutual cooperation between the business and public sectors to mitigate obstacles while taking advantage of opportunities. “Their constructive collaboration will undoubtedly yield an integrated infrastructure and new opportunities that satisfy the demands and ambitions of the various economic sectors and promote sustainable growth of the emirate,” Al Awadi said.

During the meeting, 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.

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) organized the Sharjah-India business forum to discuss economic relations and ways of strengthening business collaboration between Sharjah and India.

Attended by more than 50 leaders of local and Indian businesses, the forum welcomed a high-level delegation from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI).

During the event, the SCCI invited Indian business leaders to take advantage of Sharjah's promising investment opportunities, which have become even more rewarding after signing the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

"The historic UAE-India CEPA, which entered into force on May 1, 2022, has set the stage for the two friendly countries to open up a new chapter of strategic cooperation," said Abdulaziz Mohammed Shattaf, Assistant Director-General of the Communication and Business Sector at the Sharjah Chamber, emphasizing that the forum has provided the perfect setting to further strengthen the already robust UAE-Indian cooperation.

"We are looking forward, through this gathering,  to advancing Sharjah-India collaboration to new levels and achieving the ultimate goals of the business communities in both nations, while also significantly contributing to the comprehensive partnership objectives, such as increasing intra-non-oil commerce between the two nations to $100 billion yearly over the next five years, up from the current $45 billion," Shattaf added.

For his part, Pradeep Sureka, President of the Indian Chamber of Commerce, emphasized that hosting the forum is yet another testament to the extraordinary relations that the UAE has with India, which have been growing over the last decades in a variety of economic sectors.

Sureka said that the CEPA is India's first deal with the UAE, a key MENA country to which Indian exports amount to about $60 billion. This reaffirms the fact that the UAE is a major gateway to global trade in the region.

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) held a meeting with the National Real Estate Committee of the Federation of Saudi Chambers, during the visit of its delegation to the UAE. This comes with the aim of identifying investment opportunities for real estate projects and exchanging best practices and successful experiences in the sector of real estate. The meeting witnessed a number of recommendations that centered on coordination to organize a joint real estate event during ACRES 2022, as well as discussing prospects for cooperation and bilateral partnerships in various fields in the real estate sector. The meeting also addressed providing an opportunity for businesspersons in the two countries to meet with their counterparts to discuss opportunities to cooperate and investments. "This meeting will be the beginning of a fresh start towards more cooperation and strengthening mutual trade and investment relations, especially in the real estate sector," said HE Mohammed Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Director-General, SCCI. The Emirate of Sharjah has recorded quantum leaps in the real estate sector, which has begun to recover from the repercussions of the pandemic, thanks to the proactive measures and steps taken by the wise leadership, he added. Sharjah's real estate sector achieved a trading volume of 12.2 billion dirhams during the first half of this year, according to the Real Estate Registration Department. The results of real estate trading for the first half of 2021 also showed an increase in trading volume by 96.1% compared to the same period in 2020, which is a result of the resumption of business and the increase in investor confidence in Sharjah's real estate market. "This meeting constitutes a new chapter in the joint economic work between business owners in the two brotherly countries, as part of the efforts made to strengthen mutual cooperation in all economic fields, said HE Muhammad bin Abdullah Al-Murshed, Chairman of the National Real Estate Committee in the Federation of Saudi Chambers of Commerce. In turn, Saeed Ghanem Al-Suwaidi stressed the importance of the visit in exchanging best experiences and practices in the real estate sector and exploring real estate challenges in the region and developing appropriate solutions accordingly, expressing the committee's full readiness to cooperate with the Saudi side and provide all facilities to investors.

The four offices of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) in the regions of Al Dhaid, Kalba, Khorfakkan and Dibba Al Hisn have been successful in achieving all the goals and implementing all the planned programmes. The offices completed and implemented their operational planning programmes in the first half of this year”, the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry has stated. Following the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and based on the diligent follow-up of SCCI’s Board of Directors, SCCI's branches strive to achieve the highest levels of satisfaction, among the local business community through the quality of services, and the level of professionalism, stated Khalil Mohammed Al Mansoori, Director of the SCCI’s Branch Management. SCCI's four branches were keen to create numerous programmes that would aid in overcoming the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. SCCI has expanded its initiatives aimed at assisting the development process in the Eastern and Central Regions, by developing innovative economic activities aimed at revitalising the commercial and industrial movement, doubling investment opportunities in both regions, and improving their competitive environment. SCCI is preparing to launch the Al Dhaid Date Festival from July 22 to 25, at the Al Dhaid Expo Centre, as well as the "Al Malih and Sea Fishing" Festival in Dibba Al Hisn, and dozens of other economic activities as part of the SCCI's effort to support and promote development programmes.

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, SCCI, represented by the Small and Medium Enterprises Centre (Tijarah 101) organised recently a virtual workshop for the Centre affiliates and members, as well as a number of interested entrepreneurs. The workshop, which was held in cooperation with the Sharjah Foundation to support pioneering Entrepreneurs, RUWAD, aims to shed light on the services and facilities provided by Ruwad to support entrepreneurs and startups. Also, the event comes as part of the SCCI’s commitment to working together with other concerned and specialised entities to attract advanced training programmes that help enhance the key role of entrepreneurs in light of the current circumstances of COVID-19 pandemic. Moderated by Haitham Al Sharqawi, Head of Project Study and Analysis, Ruwad, the event was attended by Mona Omran Ali, Director of Tijarah 101 Centre, and Fatima Al Ali, Director of Project Support and Finance, Ruwad. The workshop touched on the support and services programmes being offered by Ruwad to its members, including the government procurement programme, in addition to the role of business incubators in supporting SMEs and the mechanism for supporting entrepreneurship through providing financial and technical support, preparing the appropriate environment for establishing these projects, and creating a stimulating climate for investment in SMEs for citizens driven by the spirit of innovation and leadership. Mona Omran pointed to the significance of the workshop in guiding entrepreneurs to get acquainted with the proper mechanisms for confronting COVID-19 repercussions and to learn more about specialised government support agencies. Omran underscored that the SCCI remains committed to supporting entrepreneurs by adopting and sponsoring innovative and renewed programmes that meet the aspirations of those interested in running projects of regional and international commercial brands, in addition to tackling the challenges they face by arming with the necessary knowledge and skills that guarantee the sustainability of their projects. Praising the substantial role of Ruwad in motivating creativity among the UAE youth and providing all the services and opportunities for entrepreneurs, Tijarah 101 Director stressed that the Centre is keen on providing training courses and workshops that help entrepreneurs cope with the changes to the economic arena.

HE Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, the Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, SCCI, recently received a high-level US delegation headed by Seth Oppenheim, Commercial Officer, SelectUSA Investment Summit, accompanied by George Calboh, US Department of Commerce representative. The meeting was held at the SCCI headquarters in the presence of a number of officials at the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi and Fatima Al Mokarrab, SCCI’s Director of International Relations Department. The two sides discussed the cooperation prospects for enhancing joint investment and building the foundations for serious future work between economic activities in both the Emirate of Sharjah and the United States of America. Al Owais was also briefed on the details of the SelectUSA Investment Summit and the field visits that will follow the upcoming summit on June 1. Discovering the Investment Climate Commenting on the meeting outcomes, Al Owais said: “This meeting is an important opportunity to develop strategic relations between the two sides in various sectors and to establish new projects to enhance the common endeavors to support economic growth in both countries. This visit is also an important platform that allows investors and businessmen in the US to discover the investment climate in the Emirate of Sharjah and establish solid economic relations that support the flow of trade exchange and economic cooperation between the two friendly countries.” Al Owais explained that the UAE is the largest Arab investor in the US market, with a total investment of about $ 4.8 billion, stressing the depth of the bilateral relations between the two countries, especially in the commercial and investment sectors, where the non-oil foreign trade between the two countries recorded about 24.5 billion dollars in 2018. “The SCCI is calling on the business community in Sharjah to take part in the SelectUSA Investment Summit, as this would help increase the volume of bilateral trade exchanges, in addition to leveraging investment opportunities in the US market and learning more about the best practices and technical progress witnessed by American industries in the productive and innovative sectors,” he concluded. Expressing his admiration and appreciation for Sharjah’s holistic renaissance, Seth Oppenheim emphasized his country’s interest in enhancing cooperation and commercial exchanges with the Emirate of Sharjah and pushing it forward for the benefit of both parties. Oppenheim called on the SCCI and the Emirati business community to visit the US and seize the opportunity to participate in the summit to hold direct meetings and to take advantage of the investment climate and to get acquainted with the main areas of the US economy including; information and communications technology, advanced industries and other sectors. Strengthening Cooperation with Brazil In another meeting, the SCCI’s Chairman met with Rubens Hanoun, the President of the Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and his accompanying delegation, in the presence of HE Hamid Mohammed Bin Salem, Secretary-General of Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, HE Mohammad Ahmed Amin Al-Awadi, SCCI’s Director-General, and Fatima Al Mokarrab. The meeting reviewed Sharjah’s most important economic competitive qualities. The two sides also discussed a number of issues of common interest, which contribute to enhancing the commercial, investment and industrial cooperation relations between Sharjah and Brazil and achieving the aspirations of the private sector on each side. The meeting also underlined the importance of organizing many bilateral meetings and opening direct communication channels between businessmen and merchants of both parties to increase trade exchange, owing to the various economic qualities in the industrial, commercial, agricultural and tourism sectors. The meeting concluded with exchanging shields and souvenirs between the two sides who underlined the importance of this visit and its positive impact on the economic cooperation horizons between the Emirate of Sharjah and Brazil.

HE Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, SCCI, received HE Bakhtiyor Ibragimov, Uzbekistan Ambassador to the UAE. The meeting, which was held at the SCCI headquarters, discussed avenues for developing economic cooperation relations, promoting joint investments, exchanging trade missions and building partnerships between the two business communities in the Emirate of Sharjah and the Republic of Uzbekistan. During the meeting, the Uzbekistan Ambassador handed over the SCCI’s Chairman a formal invitation to participate in the Tashkent International Investment Forum 2020, which will be held on 5-6 March. The meeting, which was held in the presence of HE Mohammad Ahmed Amin Al-Awadi, SCCI’s Director-General, Fatima Khalifa Al Muqrab, Head of International Cooperation Department, SCCI, discussed the prospects for cooperation and partnership between the two sides, to help reinforce economic, trade and investment relations between the two friendly countries Positive Factors While welcoming the Uzbek delegation, HE Abdullah Sultan Al Owais underlined the historical and cultural relations between the UAE and Uzbekistan at various levels, something which constitutes s positive factor towards building more joint work on the economic and commercial levels between the two friendly countries. This would help achieve the best benefit from the various investment opportunities on both sides, stimulate the launch of continuous economic cooperation projects, and raise the rates of trade exchanges between the two countries, in line with the wise directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the UAE Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. Al Owais expressed the SCCI’s happiness to take part in the Tashkent International Investment Forum 2020 at the head of a commercial delegation of representatives of private sector companies operating in Sharjah, to pave the way for businessmen to discuss possible cooperation prospects and investment opportunities available on both sides. He noted that the SCCI will continue to encourage its members to attend the event for the benefit of the business communities of the two friendly countries in the industrial, tourism, agricultural and exhibition sectors. Sharjah …. A Major Gateway to Uzbek goods The SCCI’s Chairman highlighted the importance of enhancing the areas of cooperation between Sharjah and Uzbekistan in the Islamic economy field, especially the manufacture of halal food products, leveraging distinctive location of the Emirate of Sharjah as a main gateway to promote Uzbek industrial goods and expanding their presence in the region’s markets, thanks to Sharjah’s qualities and privileges and its legislative umbrella which services and facilities for companies to develop their business. Al Owais welcomed the exchange of trade visits and delegations between Sharjah and Uzbekistan, as part of the SCCI’s forward-looking vision based on economic diversification and the development of non-oil exports. Solid Relations Thanking the SCCI for the warm reception, HE Bakhtiyor Ibragimov, highlighted the close relations and common interests between Uzbekistan and Sharjah and praised the outstanding status of the Emirate of Sharjah and its economic achievements during the last period. Ibragimov expressed his country’s wish for economic openness to Sharjah's business sectors, stressing that the SCCI’s participation in the Tashkent International Investment Forum 2020 will allow investors from both sides to hold meetings and sign partnerships and investment agreements in various sectors. The Uzbek ambassador called on Sharjah to dispatch more trade missions to Uzbekistan and to open representative offices to enhance the competitiveness of the business community in the Central Asian markets with its promising investment opportunities. The SCCI is Ready to Take Part in the Forum HE Mohammad Ahmed Amin Al-Awadi said: “The SCCI is ready to provide all forms of support to the Uzbek companies wishing to invest in Sharjah, by providing all facilities and advice to businessmen and directing them towards sectors with great competitiveness and high export capacity, besides providing all forms of logistical support to develop trade and economic relations between Sharjah and Uzbekistan.” The SCCI’s Director-General emphasized the Chamber’s keenness to raise the process of economic and investment cooperation to the best levels and build strategic partnerships based on investment opportunities and economic and commercial capabilities of the two friendly countries. He pointed to the importance of organizing bilateral meetings and opening more communication channels between businessmen and investors in the two countries, underlining that this will pave the way for raising increasing non-oil trade exchange, for the benefit of the friendly countries and their aspirations to achieve the integration in industrial, agricultural and commercial sectors. The volume of non-oil trade exchange between the UAE and Uzbekistan recorded tangible growth during the last period, while non-oil exports between the UAE and Uzbekistan achieved a great leap by reaching 500 million dirhams, owing to the constant endeavors of the two countries to double trade relations in all fields. It is noteworthy that the Tashkent International Investment Forum, which is organized by the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade, comes as part of the initiative of Shavkat Mirzaev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. More than 1500 ministers, dignitaries and officials from the Department of Business and Investment will take part in the forum, as well as major companies and foreign and domestic productive institutions. Among the sessions to be held is “Open for Business”, “Deepening Regional Connectivity”, and “Harnessing Technical Innovation”.

HE Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the Minister of Climate Change and Environment, inaugurated the 3rd edition of the East Coast Marine Environment Festival which takes place at the Kalba Corniche Park. The three-day event is organized by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, SCCI, in cooperation with Kalba Municipality, Sharjah Marine Sports Club, Kalba Fishermen's Association, Kalba Ladies Club, and the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport. The event is featuring several live shows, heritage contests, marine, and recreational games, with the participation of many government institutions, private sector companies and dozens of productive families showcasing a wide variety of local products. The opening ceremony was attended by HE Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman, SCCI, HE Waleed Abdul Rahman Bu Khatir, SCCI’s Second Vice Chairman, a number of the SCCI Board of Directors, HE Dr. Suleiman Abdullah Al Zaabi, Chairman of Kalba Municipal Council, HE Mohammad Ahmed Amin Al-Awadi, SCCI’s Director-General, and Abdul Aziz Shattaf, SCCI’s Assistant General Director, Members Services Sector and Director of Sharjah Exports Development Center Also present were Khalil Muhammad Al Mansoori, Director of the SCCI Branch Management, Sultan Obaid Al Zaabi, Director of SCCI Branch in Kalba, Hassan Al Zaabi, Member of the Board of Directors of Sharjah Marine Sports Club, Dr. Hisham Afifi, Advisor to the President of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport and Director of Sharjah Branch, in addition to a number of government departments officials, economic figures, sponsors and media representatives. Following the inauguration, HE Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi accompanied by HE Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, toured the festival activities, where he was briefed on the products of productive families, heritage crafts, folk arts, marine activities, and hunting arts. While appreciating the SCCI’s efforts and initiatives to support and enhance the business environment in the Emirate of Sharjah, HE Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi said that safeguarding the environment and ensuring the sustainability of its biological diversity is one of the most important priorities of the UAE, especially the marine environment that is closely related to the heritage and history of Emirati society. Al Zeyoudi pointed out that the community activities, such as the East Coast Marine Environment Festival, significantly contribute to enhancing community awareness of the importance of environmental protection and mechanisms and behaviors to preserve and ensure the sustainability of its natural resources and biological diversity in line with the goals of the UAE vision 2021. Highlighting Economic Qualities HE Abdullah Sultan Al Owais said: “The SCCI is always keen on developing the activities of the East Coast Marine Environment Festival in a sustainable way in cooperation with its partners, to serve as an annual milestone that helps boost the economic, commercial and tourist movement, and support the handicraft industries in the city of Kalba and the eastern coast region of the Emirate of Sharjah, and encourage the people of the region to make the best use of This festival. Additionally, such community events highlight the Emirati legacy, through heritage, recreational and cultural events that enhance the feeling of pride in the history of parents and grandparents. In the meantime, these events play a key role in enriching the culture and knowledge information among the festival visitors. “The SCCI, through such events, including Al Dhaid Dates Festival and Salt & Marine Fishing Festival in Dibba Al Hisn, aims to highlight the economic qualities of the various regions of the emirate and shed light on the advantages and opportunities of investment available in these regions, and revitalizing handicrafts and supporting productive families and entrepreneurs in various sectors,” he noted. Expressing his thanks to all authorities which spared no effort in providing the support for the success of this festival, Al Owais underlined that this reflects the keenness of all authorities to join efforts and cooperate for the sake of public interest and the happiness of society. Reflecting the History and Uniqueness of the Region Khalil Muhammad Al Mansoori said: “The two previous editions of the festival have managed to attract more than 20 thousand visitors from different age groups and tourists to the city of Kalba, thanks to the rich cultural and recreational activities that reflect the cultural and heritage aspect of the city and the eastern coast region of the Emirate of Sharjah in general.” He added that the 3rd edition of the festival constitutes an opportunity for families and visitors to get acquainted with the marine life of the eastern coast of the emirate, and enjoy live shows, heritage, and poetic competitions, marine and recreational games, picnic boats, products of productive families, popular cuisine and other attractive activities. Launching the First Fishing Competition The 3rd edition of the festival saw the organization of military shows by students of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport in Khor Fakkan. In addition, the first fishing competition has been launched with cash prizes amounting to 150 thousand dirhams. The fishing competition is divided into three categories; the winner will get 50 thousand dirhams on each category. These categories are the largest fishing category, tuna fishing category, and kanad fishing category. The three-day festival also includes organizing a number of live shows for boats and marine heritage equipment, fishing craft shows, its methods and seasons, in addition to daily seminars aimed at raising awareness and increasing the experience of the public and those interested in the fishing profession, where a number of old and experienced fishermen will tell their stories and personal experiences about their craft and the most prominent milestones they went through. The festival also provides a space for merchants to learn more about fish products and their role in reinforcing the folklore from the professions and the traditional marine industries that parents and grandparents lived for decades, as well as providing an opportunity to learn about the products of marine fishing tools and others.

عقدت غرفة تجارة وصناعة الشارقة، في مقرها "ملتقى الأعمال بين الشارقة والإسكندرية"، الذي نظمته الغرفة بالتعاون مع جمعية رجال أعمال إسكندرية، واستهدف الملتقى التعريف بالفرص الاستثمارية المشتركة وتقوية العلاقات التجارية المشتركة، واستعراض آفاق التعاون والشراكات الثنائية في قطاعات اقتصادية متنوعة، وإتاحة الفرصة للمشاركين من رجال الأعمال في البلدين الشقيقين للالتقاء بنظرائهم لمناقشة فرص التعاون والاستثمار المتاحة لدى الجانبين. وحضر الملتقى، سعادة الدكتور سلطان الملا عضو مجلس إدارة غرفة تجارة وصناعة الشارقة، وسعادة محمد أحمد أمين العوضي مدير عام غرفة الشارقة، والدكتور عبد المنعم حافظ نائب رئيس جمعية رجال أعمال إسكندرية، وعبد العزيز محمد شطاف مساعد المدير العام لقطاع خدمات الأعضاء، مدير مركز الشارقة لتنمية الصادرات، وإبراهيم راشد الجروان مدير إدارة العلاقات الإقتصادية والتسويق في الغرفة، ومحمد جمعة المشرخ المدير التنفيذي لمكتب الشارقة للاستثمار الأجنبي المباشر في هيئة الشارقة للاستثمار والتطوير "شروق"، وسلطان شطاف مدير إدارة المبيعات والتسويق في مركز إكسبو الشارقة، وعلي المطوع تنفيذي العلاقات التجارية في هيئة المنطقة الحرة لمطار الشارقة الدولي، إلى جانب حضور مسؤولين من عدد من الدوائر والهيئات الحكومية في الإمارة، وحشد من ممثلي القطاع الخاص في الشارقة وإسكندرية. بداية لإنطلاقة جديدة وفي مستهل الملتقى، رحّب سعادة محمد أحمد أمين العوضي، بالحضور متمنياً أن يسهم الملتقى في تعزيز العلاقات الاقتصادية والتجارية والتعاون بين البلدين الشقيقين، وأن يكون بداية لإنطلاقة جديدة نحو مزيد من التعاون وتعزيز العلاقات التجارية والاستثمارية المتبادلة بما يخدم المصلحة المشتركة، مشيرا إلى أن إنعقاد الملتقى اليوم، هو ثمرة من ثمار العلاقات الثنائية المتميّزة والراسخة بين الإمارات ومصر في جميع المجالات السياسية والثقافية والاقتصادية والعلمية والسياحية والتي كانت وستبقى إلى الأبد متجذرة بمباركة ورعاية قيادتي البلدين، مؤكدا رغبة غرفة الشارقة للمساهمة بتعزيز العلاقات التاريخية القائمة بين البلدين بوجه عام، وبين الشارقة والإسكندرية على وجه الخصوص، وذلك ترجمة لتوجيهات صاحب السمو الشيخ الدكتور سلطان بن محمد القاسمي عضو المجلس الأعلى حاكم الشارقة، بترسيخ قواعد وأسس العمل المشترك وتعزيز علاقات الشارقة على مختلف المستويات مع أشقاؤها العرب. بناء أفضل العلاقات وأشار العوضي، إلى أن غرفة الشارقة حريصة على مواصلة بناء أفضل العلاقات مع مجتمع الأعمال في الإسكندرية، من خلال الاستعداد التام لتقديم كافة التسهيلات الممكنة للراغبين بالاستثمار في إمارة الشارقة والاستفادة من المزايا والفرص الواعدة التي تزخر بها لا سيما في ضوء سياسة التنويع الاقتصادي السديدة التي تنتهجها حكومة الشارقة، والتي بفضلها غدت الإمارة وجهة مميزة لاستقطاب الاستثمارات الأجنبية ومحوراً تجارياً رئيساً في المنطقة، مستفيدة من موقعها الاستراتيجي بين الشرق والغرب، عدا عن كونها ثالث أكبر إمارة من حيث المساهمة في إجمالي الناتج المحلي للدولة، كما تضم إمارة الشارقة 21 منطقة صناعية تستحوذ على نحو 35% من الناتج الصناعي لدولة الإمارات، إلى جانب أهميتها كوجهة سياحية وثقافية مزدهرة. تفعيل مذكرة التفاهم ودعا العوضي، إلى إعادة تفعيل مذكرة التفاهم الموقعة بين الغرفة وجمعية رجال أعمال إسكندرية في العام 2007 للبناء على ما تم بذله من جهود وإنجازه من مبادرات ومواصلة السير قُدماً نحو الارتقاء بمستوى العلاقات الاقتصادية والتجارية والاستثمارية القائمة، مشيرا إلى أن قيمة الاستثمارات الإماراتية في مصر وصلت حتى العام الماضي إلى أكثر من 7 مليار دولار، فيما وصل عدد الشركات المصرية المؤسسة في الشارقة إلى 2400 شركة، كما تأتي الإمارات في المرتبة الأولى من حيث الاستحواذ على إجمالي الصادرات المصرية إلى الدول العربية بإجمالي ما يقارب الــ7.3 مليارات درهم مستحوذة بذلك الإمارات على ما نسبته 21 بالمئة من مجمل الصادرات المصرية إلى مجموع الدول العربية. خطوة في الاتجاه الصحيح من جانبه توجه الدكتور عبد المنعم حافظ بالشكر لدولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة ولغرفة تجارة وصناعة الشارقة على تنظيم هذا الملتقى، مؤكداً على عمق الروابط بين جمهورية مصر ودولة الإمارات، ومعتبراً أن الملتقى خطوة في الاتجاه الصحيح نحو علاقات ثنائية أكثر قوة وتميزا في مجالات متنوعة، تعزز الشراكة الاقتصادية، وتنمي روابط مجتمعي الأعمال في البلدين، داعياً أعضاء الغرفة والمسثمرين ورجال الأعمال الإماراتيين إلى زيارة الاسكندرية للاطلاع على المقومات الصناعية والاقتصادية والسياحية التي تزخر بها، فضلا عن مزيا الاستثمار فيها ولا سيما الاستثمار العقاري الذي يمنح أكبر هامش للمستثمر، بالإضافة إلى صناعة البتروكيماويات، مشيرا إلى أن 40% من قطاع الصناعات المصرية في مجالات البترول وخدمات النقل والخدمات اللوجستية تتواجد في الاسكندرية والمناطق المحيطة بها. عروضا تعريفية وتضمن الملتقى عروضا تعريفية من الجهات المشاركة للتعريف بأهم الفرص الاستثمارية المتاحة، حيث استعرض محمد جمعة المشرخ، عدداً من القطاعات الاقتصادية والحيوية، التي تتيح فرصاً استثمارية واعدة في الإمارة، خصوصاً في قطاعات السياحة والترفيه، وخدمات النقل والإمداد، والرعاية الصحية، والبيئة، والتعليم، والصناعات الخفيفة، بالإضافة إلى أهم المشاريع التنموية التي تعمل عليها الشارقة في الوقت الراهن، مبينا ما تقدمه الإمارة من محفزات وتسهيلات، لرؤوس الأموال الراغبة في الاستثمار فها. كما استعرض سلطان شطاف، المزايا والخدمات التي يوفرها مركز إكسبو الشارقة للعارضين كونه يمثل منصة دولية حيوية تمكّن الشركات من عرض منتجاتها وخدماتها، والالتقاء بالشركاء المناسبين، وتوسعة أعمالهم وفتح أسواق جديدة، فضلا عن تعريف أعضاء الجمعية بأهمية إكسبو الشارقة وموقعه الاستراتيجي ودوره على الصعيدين الإقليمي والدولي بالإضافة إلى تقديم شرح عن أهم المعارض التي ينظمها ويستضيفها على مدار العام. حرة الشارقة تستعرض مزاياها كما استعرض علي المطوع المزايا التي تقدمها هيئة المنطقة الحرة لمطار الشارقة الدولي للمستثمرين وأهمها ملكية أعمال بنسبة 100%، وتحويل لرأس المال والأرباح من دون قيود على العملات، وإعفاء ضريبي كامل على الاستيراد والتصدير، وإعفاء من ضرائب الدخل على الشركات والأفراد بنسبة 100%، وإصدار التراخيص خلال أقل من ساعة، وتوفير أراض ومستودعات ومكاتب مفروشة للتأجير، وموقع استراتيجي يتوسط الإمارات والعالم، إلى جانب ربط جوي عالمي من خلال مطار الشارقة الدولي، الذي يعد أكبر مركز شحن جوي في المنطقة، فضلا عن الأسعار المنافسة وتوفير المعدات والعمال وخدمات الشحن على مدار الساعة، مما جعلها الوجهة الأفضل للاستثمار في منطقة الشرق الأوسط، فضلا عن كونها واحدة من أقدم وأضخم مناطق التجارة الحرة وأسرعها نمواً في الشرق الأوسط. واختتم اللقاء بتبادل دروع التكريم بين الغرفة وجمعية رجال أعمال إسكندرية، كما تم عقد لقاءات ثنائية بين رجال الأعمال من الطرفين، وتمحورت حول بحث الشراكات والتعاون والتنسيق المتبادل، ومناقشة الفرص الاستثمارية المتاحة، كما جال الوفد الزائر بعد ذلك في المعرض الدائم، مشيدا به باعتباره منصة مؤاتية للترويج للمنتجات وإيجاد فرص التعاون بين الشركات والزوار من ممثلي الوفود التجارية.

As part of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry's keenness to spread the culture of innovation and stimulate positive thinking, knowledge department in the chamber organized an interactive workshop entitled "We create our future", during which an atmosphere of fun and competition was created using intelligent games and management skills, with the participation of a number of employees, in the presence of Mohamed Ahmed Amin, Director General of the Chamber. The lecturer presented the most important methods that enhance the concept of innovation in a creative way and methodological mechanisms to learn about the art of team management, motivation of creativity and achieving goals in accordance with the general strategy, which is one of the most important criteria for team leadership. The workshop witnessed training on several different models which enriches self-reflection and encourages the importance of collective participation within the same team.

A stunning collection of gems and jewellery designed and carefully handcrafted by ten Emirati female designers has inevitably caught the eyes of jewellery hunters visiting the 47th Watch & Jewellery Middle East Show, being organised by and held at Expo Centre Sharjah. The Pioneering Emirati entrepreneurs have showcased their talents in jewellery design, as part of their participation in the Emirati Designers’ Pavilion, initiated by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), to support and promote young entrepreneur projects in all exhibitions. Through their displayed items, the Emirati designers have demonstrated their creative and professional ability in designing and crafting gemstones and jewellery, with each of whom leaving her own indelible mark in the jewellery industry by devising unique shapes coupled with creative colors that match that of the finest jewellery makers and the largest brands in the world. Attracting Emirati entrepreneurs H.E. Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI, said: “Since its creation five editions ago, the Emirati Designers’ Pavilion has served as a springboard for lots of Emirati entrepreneurs including ladies, aspiring to get into the jewellery trade and design industry in the UAE. With their craft and marketing skills haven been sharpened, some of top jewellery brands are now held by Emirati designers, who were the fruits of the Chamber’s support and keenness to motivate and give them the opportunity to evince and foster their talents, Al Owais added. He stressed that the SCCI will spare no effort to support Emirati entrepreneurs and help them reach their highest potential and achieve their ambitions. Ideal Platform for talented Emiratis For his part, H.E. Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah, said: “The 47th edition of the show has recorded a distinguished presence of Emirati entrepreneurs who thrilled many jewellery enthusiasts with their creative works. What we have seen in the show is promising and gives us a great hope with a generation of Emirati entrepreneurs capable of developing unique designs and enhance the UAE's position in the jewellery industry”. “The Watch & Jewellery Show has been and will always be an ideal platform for talented Emiratis looking forward to getting into the world of jewellery industry and developing their marketing and competitive skills”, Al Midfa added. Emirati designers Emirati designer Khadija Al Sinani, from Harf w Nagsh Jewellery, lauded the SCCI’s efforts to adopt and nurture young Emirati talents and help Emiratis reveal their exquisite exhibits in one the most important and most prominent jewellery shows not only in the UAE and but also in the region and the world. Emirati designer Fatima Al Bannai, from Baguette Design and who is participating for the first time in the Emirati Designers’ Pavilion, hailed the SCCI’s support extended to Emirati creatives and thanked Expo Centre Sharjah for giving her along with her colleagues the opportunity to introduce their trendy and unique designs. The Emirati Designers’ Pavilion has been a showstopper at this year’s exhibition, bringing together some of the pioneering Emirati entrepreneurs to showcase their talents in jewellery design, making it the perfect opportunity to discover handmade, authentic and unique designs for your loved ones.

Accor has opened the doors to its first Novotel property in Sharjah, introducing the midscale brand’s signature relaxed and lively hospitality concept in one of the UAE’s fastest-growing destinations. The 200-key Novotel Sharjah Expo Centre, which is owned by and Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and United Investment Group, boasts a prime city location, next to the convention and exhibition centre and Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, overlooking the Al Khan Lagoon, and close to major leisure attractions. Dubai and Sharjah international airports are less than 20 minutes away. With modern facilities, intuitive services and a natural and contemporary design that maximises guest comfort and social spaces, the property is set to make its mark as a business, leisure, meetings and wellness hub for savvy travellers and the local community. “The opening of Novotel’s first property in Sharjah is perfect timing, with industry and tourism in the emirate – the UAE’s third largest economy and culture capital – growing at a rapid rate,” said Mark Willis, CEO, Middle East & Africa, Accor/ Marc Descrozaille, Chief Operating Officer, Gulf (excluding KSA) and Sub Saharan Africa, Accor. “It marks an exciting milestone for the brand in a destination with strong demand for high-quality midscale hospitality concepts that offer travellers and the local community a convenient and stylish place to meet, socialise, relax and achieve that all-important work-life balance.” Novotel Sharjah Expo Centre features 200 rooms and suites with lagoon views, including Executive Suites designed for business travellers and family rooms that can accommodate two adults and two children, with complimentary breakfast for under 16s. The wellness offering spans a spa, outdoor swimming pool with terrace overlooking the lagoon, a gym with cardio and resistance equipment, male and female saunas and the choice of well-balanced contemporary cuisine options from the property’s three F&B outlets - the Tahi Arabic restaurant serving Middle Eastern specialties, all-day buffet-style dining venue and 24-hour coffee shop in the lobby. For executive travellers, two high-tech meeting rooms accommodate up to 55 guests, complemented by a business centre with support team, while families with young children will appreciate the kids’ corner and the property’s proximity to major attractions including Sharjah Aquarium, Qanat Al Qasba, Khalid Lagoon Corniche, Al Majaz Waterfront, Mamzar beach park and Sharjah Heritage Museum. His Excellency Abdullah Sultan Al Oweis, Board Chairman, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Chairman of Expo Centre Sharjah said that the hotel is within the Chamber’s vision to create an environment conducive to supporting the exhibitions and conferences sector and the outcome of a strategic partnership between the Chamber and Accor Hotels Group and global Accor. Having hotels built to international standards positively impacts exhibitions and conferences and all other events related to Expo Centre Sharjah, one of the first centers in the region dedicated to organizing and hosting divers events. Al Oweis added that the positive cooperation that has produced the hotel will be the catalyst for more joint cooperation in the future. “I am delighted to officially open the doors to one of Sharjah’s most hotly-anticipated properties, based on its desirable city location and raft of customer-intuitive facilities that enhance the emirate’s growing reputation as a destination for business, families and culture,” said General Manager Ayman Hassan. “With is modern and flexible venues and public spaces, dynamic yet effortlessly casual atmosphere and innovative experiences that promote wellbeing, I am certain our guests will feel comfortable and at home during their visit or stay.” Novotel Sharjah Expo Centre is Accor’s second hotel in the emirate where it already operates the ibis Styles Sharjah and expands the group’s network of Novotel properties in the UAE to five, with its sixth, Novotel Bur Dubai also on track to open this year.

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry discussed with a high-level delegation from the Republic of Tajikistan, prospects for joint cooperation and increased trade exchange, and the opportunities for economic partnerships with the business communities in Sharjah and Tajikistan in a number of important sectors. This came during the meeting hosted by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry recently, in the presence of Waleed Abdul Rahman Bu Khatir, Second Vice Chairman, Dzamshed Dzumakhonzoda, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Tajikistan, along with Mohamed Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Sharjah Chamber’s Director-General, and Bahodur Sharifi, the Ambassador of Tajikistan to the United Arab Emirates, Ilhom Abdurahmon, Consul General of the Republic of Tajikistan in Dubai and Northern Emirates and Adel Sangov Vice-Chairman of Tajikistan Chamber and Jassim Al-Mutawa, Consultant of Relations with the Commonwealth of the Independent States and a number of SCCI officials. Waleed Bu Khatir welcomed the visiting delegation, expressing the chamber’s aspirations that this meeting would be a new start towards wider prospects for economic cooperation between the UAE, in general, and Sharjah in particular with Tajikistan. He highlighted the importance of paving the way for businessmen to explore possible cooperation prospects and the available investment opportunities on both sides, to help enhance and deepen the bilateral and economic ties, thus reflecting positively on the trade exchange volume between the two countries. Bu Khatir noted that Sharjah has become a key economic hub in the region and also a destination to the global companies willing to penetrate the regional markets, thanks to Sharjah’s motivational investment climate and a competitive work environment within its development vision to diversify its productive base and develop the non-oil exports. He added that there are great chances to increase the economic, commercial and investment cooperation between Tajikistan and Sharjah in many sectors. Mohamed Ahmed Amin Al Awadi said that the chamber is ready to provide all forms of support for Tajik companies willing to invest in Sharjah by providing all advantages and facilities, as well as offering advice to the businessmen and guiding them to the most competitive sectors with high export capacity and providing all forms of logistic support to develop the commercial and economic relations between the UAE and Tajikistan. For his part, Dzamshed Dzumakhonzoda expressed his happiness to hold this important meeting to discuss the opportunities of economic cooperation and trade exchange, pointing to the availability of many investment opportunities in Tajikistan which can be optimally utilized. He added that the investment environment and strategic location of Sharjah would help to encourage investment in the Emirate.

The UAE-Poland Business Forum, organised by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, SCCI, at its headquarters discussed enhancing cooperation in medical products, healthcare and the wood industries, in addition to logistical support in the hotel and tourism sectors, professional lighting and furniture. The forum was aimed at introducing joint investment opportunities, exploring cooperation prospects and bilateral partnerships across various economic sectors, and paving the way for business communities from both sides to discuss potential investment opportunities. The forum comes on the sidelines of a visit by a high-ranking Polish delegation headed by Katarzyna Matuszak, Director, Project Development Department, and comprising over 12 businessmen and representatives from Polish trade companies. It was held in the presence of Mohammad Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, the SCCI’s Director-General; Abdulaziz Shattaf, Assistant Director-General for Members Services at the SCCI, Director of Sharjah Exports Development Centre, as well as 25 representatives from private sectors in Sharjah. Al Awadi said, "The forum is a positive step towards strengthening bilateral relations and reflecting the seriousness of both sides to take the economic cooperation to new heights, as well as establishing new economic partnerships in the essential sectors." He pointed out that Sharjah’s business community is looking forward to establishing successful strategic partnerships with their counterparts abroad. This comes in line with Sharjah’s policy of diversifying the economy and as part of the wise vision of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. The SCCI’s Director-General highlighted the competitive advantages Sharjah offers to investors, noting that such support helps businessmen establish their work and expand to other markets in the region. Matuszak said, "The emirate of Sharjah’s business environment is a distinctive and motivational one, thanks to its world-class qualities and great competitiveness. We also have to utilise the deep relations between the UAE and Poland in boosting the commercial and investment ties," Matuszak noted. The forum witnessed bilateral meetings between businessmen from both sides, during which they reviewed mutual partnerships and cooperation and discussed the investment opportunities available to both sides. The visiting delegation then toured the permanent exhibition. During the event, the Sharjah Airport International Free Zone, via a presentation, showcased the most prominent privileges and incentives available for investors.

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry organized a business dinner that brought together 130 representatives of companies, factories and retailers of economic facilities operating in Sharjah's manufacturing sector, with the aim of discussing the needs of the economic sectors and possible areas of cooperation, and identifying the best practices and investment opportunities, supporting the growth of private sector companies and raising the emirate's reputation as a vital trading centre for the establishment and practice of business. The dinner was attended by Abdul Aziz Shataf, Assistant Director General of the Chamber for the Membership Services Sector, Director of the Sharjah Export Development Centre, Medhat Munir, Head of Affiliation and Certification, and a number of employees and members of the Chamber. Abdul Aziz Shataf stressed that this type of meetings is a true embodiment of the chamber's efforts to promote integration, cooperation and coordination to achieve the advancement of economic planning mechanisms, given its importance in exchanging constructive ideas between the Chamber and representatives of the sector, and its vital role to play in exchanging views on various issues of concern to the business community and discussing future business prospects, in line with the emirate's ambitious aspirations to build a competitive, productivity-based economy. Shataf pointed out that this meeting is a platform to discuss the most important mechanisms for the development of work, in addition to highlighting the opportunities for joint cooperation in the manufacturing sector, which is one of the most important sectors supporting the policy of diversifying the economic base pursued by the Emirate. He added that the Chamber seeks from its constant communication with sector representatives to align the emirate's strategic economic vision with their needs, with the aim of building new partnerships that contribute to achieving the emirate's sustainable economic development goals. The meeting discussed a number of proposals and initiatives to improve performance, while participants praised the role of the Chamber and its efforts in strengthening relations between the government and private sectors and raising proposals and recommendations to decision makers, in addition to launching initiatives and programs that will support different sectors and help establishing investment partnerships between them and major government projects.

delegation from the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has recently visited the 40th edition of Buraidah Date Festival in the central Al Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. Mohammed Musabbah Al Tunaiji, director of SCCI branch in Al Dhaid and head of the delegation, said that the visit is in line with SCCI’s keenness to open wider horizons of cooperation between Saudi date businessmen and their counterparts in Sharjah and the UAE, and benefit from the Saudi expertise in organising such festivals. He added that the visit included a number of constructive work meetings with the Festival’s organisers learning about the mechanisms and organisation of the festival to benefit from them in developing the next Al Dhaid Date Festival. Other date- related issues were addressed during the visit.

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) received two high-ranking diplomatic delegations from South Africa and Uzbekistan to discuss Sharjah’s most important investment advantages, develop and reinforce economic and trade relations, and to learn closely about investment cooperation opportunities and trade exchange between the business communities in both sides. In this context, HE Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, met with HE Saad Cachalia, Ambassador of South Africa to the UAE. The meeting discussed prospects of cooperation and partnership to enhance the mutual investment and to build the foundations for the future business between the economic events in both Sharjah and South Africa. The meeting was attended by HE Mohammad Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, SCCI’s Director-General. Important Opportunity Commenting on the meeting, HE Abdullah Sultan Al Owais said: “This meeting is an important opportunity to further develop the strategic ties between both sides in various sectors and to establish new ventures that would help enhance our joint endeavors to bolster the economic growth in both countries.” He further added: “This meeting also constitutes an important platform for investors and businessmen in South Africa to learn about the Emirate of Sharjah’s investment climate and establish firm economic relations that bolster trade exchange and economic cooperation between the two friendly countries.” Al Owais called on South Africa’s investors and businessmen to communicate with Sharjah’s official authorities and their Emirati businessmen counterparts to establish joint ventures, as well as to take part in the economic exhibitions the Emirate of Sharjah hosts and organizes throughout the year. This would help South African businessmen and investors to get acquainted with Sharjah’s business community and to explore the distinguished opportunities and the facilities given to the foreign investors in Sharjah. The Ambassador of South Africa to the UAE, HE Saad Cachalia said that the opportunities for cooperation between the two countries are numerous and diverse, noting that South Africa pays great attention to enhance cooperation ties and trade exchange with the Emirate of Sharjah, so as to serve the interest of both sides. Cachalia expressed his admiration and appreciation for the modern renaissance of the UAE in general and the Emirate of Sharjah in particular, calling on the SCCI to visit South Africa and hold face-to-face meetings with the officials of South Africa Chambers of Commerce. After the meeting, HE Abdullah Sultan Al Owais accompanied the visiting delegation on a tour of the permanent exhibition of locally manufactured products located at the SCCI headquarters, where they reviewed a wide range of products that are manufactured locally by more than 180 firms and are exhibited through 191 stands. Economic and trade relations between the UAE and South Africa have witnessed significant developments over the last three years. The value of non-oil trade between the two countries increased from AED 9.3 billion in 2016 to AED 14.1 billion in 2018 with a growth rate of 51.6%. Uzbekistan ... Promising Investment Opportunities In the same context, HE Abdullah Sultan Al Owais met with HE Bakhtiyor Ibragimov, Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the UAE, with the attendance of HE Mohammad Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, SCCI’s Director-General. The meeting reviewed Sharjah’s most important economic competitive factors. The two sides also discussed the necessity of cooperation in the tourism, industrial and agricultural sectors. Furthermore, the meeting discussed a number of issues of common interest, which contribute to the development of trade, investment, and industrial cooperation between Sharjah and Uzbekistan with a view to realizing the aspirations of the private sector on each side. The attendees stressed the need to organize several bilateral meetings and open channels of direct communication between the businessmen of the two sides to increase trade exchange. In particular, that the indicators of the current trade volume show the availability of promising investment opportunities with the possibility of increasing them significantly in the future, given the various economic components in the industrial, agricultural and tourism sectors. Non-oil trade between the UAE and Uzbekistan recorded significant growth during the last year, while non-oil exports recorded a significant jump to AED 500 million. The meeting concluded with exchanging shields and souvenirs. The attendees pointed to the importance of the meeting as a nucleus for broader economic cooperation between the Emirate of Sharjah and Uzbekistan.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry has proudly announced being a gold sponsor for the 11 World Chambers Congress, to be held this year in June in Reo de Janeiro, Brazil, jointly organized by the International Chamber of Commerce, the World Chambers Congress and the Brazilian Chamber.  

Sharjah Chamber’s gold sponsorship of this global event that’s held once every two years translates its vision of launching the local business community to a global presence, and reaffirms Sharjah’s stature as a key player in the global commercial scene.

This sponsorship also confirms the Chamber's mission’s success in enhancing its position in the international economic scene and building bridges with representatives of economic sectors around the world. This will have a positive and constructive impact on the local business community as well as the exchange of ideas and innovative services, helping elevate the Chamber’s role in serving the private sector. Sharjah Chamber’s participation in this international ceremony is represented by sponsoring the conference’s functions and taking part  In discussion sessions as part of a platform that will include a number of economic authorities and organizations from Sharjah to introduce and promote Sharjah emirate as an economic, tourist and cultural international hub

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) organized the Best Practices Forum 2018, which is part of Sharjah Economic Excellence Network Award, on Monday at the SCCI headquarters. During the forum, the Sharjah Economic Excellence Network Award stressed that it will continue to strengthen its partnership with various economic sectors in the aim of spreading a culture of excellence and adopting the best practices in private sector institutions at the local and GCC level. 

The forum was attended by HE Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority and Member of the Board of Trustees for the Award; Mohammed Ahmed Amin, Assistant Director- General for Communication and Business sector at the SCCI; Nada Al Hajri, General Coordinator of the Award; and a number of officials from both the public and private sectors in the emirate and the country. The forum was also attended by Isra'a Mobideen, Manager of the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) office in the Middle East; and a number of consuls from various friendly countries.

The forum, which is considered one of the annual events that the SCCI organizes as part of the Sharjah Economic Excellence Network Award, witnessed the announcement that the registration for the 2018 edition of the Award has begun.

HE Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority and Member of the Board of Trustees for the Award, stressed the importance of continuously developing the Award and expanding its partnership and cooperation with regional and international institutions that are specialized in quality management, such as the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM), whose standards represent the highest adopted international models in the fields of excellence and quality.

Al Midfa stated that both the Sharjah Economic Excellence Network Award and the Best Practices Forum would not have continued without the effective partnership with the various economic sectors of the emirate. He added that during the 28 years since its inception, the Sharjah Economic Excellence Network Award has significantly contributed to spreading a culture of excellence and quality in the emirate’s business community and has succeeded in expanding its influence at both the local and GCC levels. He stressed that the Award categories cover many different aspects of excellence for economic institutions and that they play an important role in raising the quality of work among these institutions, in addition to encouraging them to upgrade their services, improve the quality and efficiency of their products, enhance their position in the market and expand their businesses to neighbouring markets.

The Board of Trustees of the Award consider the Award to be an annual opportunity to discuss the best practices in quality management and its positive effects on the activities of economic institutions that help promote the economic development that is being witnessed by both Sharjah and the UAE.

Isra'a Mobideen, Manager of the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) office in the Middle East, reviewed the European model for Quality Management and its applied scientific mechanisms. She also reviewed the impact that is witnessed by the private sector when applying this model, and its importance in motivating employees and improving their productivity and performance. She then explained the stages of building excellence and innovation and its impact on achieving institutional sustainability.

Nada Al Hajri, General Coordinator of the Awards, stressed the significance of the forum in presenting the experiences and achievements of the Award-winning institutions which helps in exchanging valuable information. She added that preparations are underway to launch the activities for the new edition of the Award in the near future and to promote its launch in the UAE and the GCC countries, in order to attract a larger number of private institutions to take part in the Award and to promote a culture of quality and excellence in the UAE and the GCC countries.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s board of directors praised the step taken by the wise leadership of the UAE to exempt investors and suppliers from the gold and diamond sector from any taxes on their business transactions and commended the government's efforts and initiatives that support this sector’s diverse fields, thereby ensuring the UAE’s business communities’ competitiveness at various global economic indicators.

The Board of Directors commended the Government's rapid action to assure investors and facilitate and streamline their work according to international best practices, as this decision will have immediate implications for the gold and diamond sector in one of the leading countries in the global trade movement of gold and diamonds.

The Board of Directors pointed out that this decision comes to confirm that the private sector is a fundamental component of the economic system of the UAE and reflects the ongoing integration, cooperation and coordination between the private sector and the wise leadership that have demonstrated the depth of its vision and prospecting of the future through mitigating all obstacles and issuing legislation that stimulates economic growth.

HE Abdullah Al Oweis, Chairman, said that exempting investors and suppliers from the gold and diamonds sector from any taxes on their business transactions is a wise decision by our leadership that takes care of its business community and pointed to the positive impact of this decision in ensuring the UAE’s status as a global trading hub for gold and diamonds, enhancing the competitiveness of the gold and diamond trade and the UAE as a global destination for business, and highlighting the strategic partnership between the public and private sectors for economic growth that sets the UAE apart as a major player in the global economic system and an example to be emulated in the ease of doing business.

HE the Chairman explained that the decision will contribute to the revitalization of the gold and diamond market and will give the economy a strong boost despite the global challenges and provide an additional incentive for investors in this vital sector to enhance their investments and expand their trade and activities. Chairman Al Oweis concluded by saying that we’re confident that our wise leadership shall provide all the means of success and excellence for investors to move their businesses to higher standards without limit.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) discussed  developing economic cooperation with the German consulate in the Dubai and the possibility of organizing joint economic events in Sharjah and German cities to promote investment opportunities and strengthen communication mechanisms between the two countries' business communities .

This came during a meeting between His Excellency Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman, and HE Günter Joseph Rauer, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Dubai and Northern Emirates, in the presence of HE Khalid Bin Butti Al Hajri, Director General.

The meeting was held yesterday at the Chamber's headquarters and discussed a number of issues to promote trade, investment and industrial cooperation between Sharjah and Germany to realize the aspirations of the private sector on each side.

HE Abdullah Al-Owais praised German technology and its contribution to the performance and efficiency of local industries and their impact on the quality of local products and stressed the Chamber’s keenness to provide all the facilities available to drive forward economic cooperation and the organization of joint economic events throughout the year thanks to Sharjah Chamber’s active membership in the UAE Federation of Chambers, the German Emirati Joint Council as well as the Arab-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Al Owais pointed out that the discussions focused on academic cooperation and making use of German expertise in management and supporting small and medium size enterprises in addition to technical training and the possibility of developing a plan of action between the Chamber and the German consulate to build opportunities for cooperation between German academies and their counterparts in Sharjah to prepare qualified human resources with expertise and professionalism and thereby support the labor market in Sharjah.

For his part HE Günter Joseph Rauer stressed his country's interest in enhancing trade relations and mutual investment, developing links  between the private business sectors in Germany and Sharjah and praised Sharjah’s development at various fields, and he expressed the  German Consulate’s keenness and readiness to cooperate with the Chamber to provide opportunities for training and harness German expertise for training human cadres.

It’s remarkable that trade between the UAE and Germany reached about 17 billion dollars (62.5 billion dirhams) in 2016, more than one third of the total German trade with Arab countries thanks in large part to the fact that most machinery and equipment in the factories in the UAE are made in Germany.

According to data from the UAE Ministry of Economy the UAE is Germany's largest trading partner in the region with German investments reaching about 2.8 billion dollars in 2015, and the number of German companies operating in the country reaching 110 companies, 507 commercial agencies and 12,660 registered, all according to 2015 statistics.

His Excellency Abdullah bin Sultan Al Oweis, Chairman, and H.E. Mrs Jerusalem Amdemariam Tadesse, Consul General of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in Dubai, discussed enhancing cooperation between the Chamber and the Consulate to enable the private sector on both sides to perform joint investment projects.

Al Oweis and Consul General HE Tadesse, who is visiting Sharjah Chamber on the occasion of her appointment as the new Consul General at the Ethiopian Consulate in Dubai, with the attendance of HE Khaled bin Butti Al Hajeri, Director General, discussed developing economic relations and trade exchange between Sharjah emirate and Ethiopia to achieve more growth and prosperity.

The discussion included the proposition to organize an exhibition for Ethiopian companies and establishments at Expo Centre Sharjah to introduce and promote Ethiopian products and services locally and to provide businessmen with the opportunity to learn about investment and commercial opportunities in Ethiopia, as Sharjah Chamber is always keen to provide all necessary facilities to support such events.

HE Al Oweis opened the meeting by welcoming the new Consul General and wishing her all the success in her mission to develop relations between the UAE and Ethiopia and pointed out that Sharjah Chamber’s work plan aims to grow local exports and puts Africa at the core of its interests and includes promotional tours to to the African continent in 2018, in Ethiopia and Tanzania. 

Al Oweis urged the Consul General to encourage Ethiopian businessmen to take advantage of the investment opportunities in Sharjah as an outstanding  regional economic hub as well thanks to the economic diversification policy in the emirate, its advanced logistic services, a pioneering banking system, and encouraging legislation and laws, and he reviewed the most important investment opportunities available in Sharjah and the efforts made by the Chamber to advocate the local business community’s interests and its keenness to support foreign investors by all means possible.

For her part, Consul General Tadesse praised the strong relations between the UAE and Ethiopia and the facilities available in the UAE and Sharjah in particular to Ethiopian citizens working in the country who share with all residents and UAE citizens the comprehensive development process witnessed here.

Consul General Tadesse praised all efforts made by Sharjah Chamber to support the trade exchange between the two countries and pointed out that her country has many components that underpin investment especially in tourism, agriculture, infrastructure and trade, as well as ample opportunities available for businessmen from Sharjah to invest in the coffee industry as the most important source of  income for Ethiopia, stressing that her country is working to overcome obstacles to expansion faced by foreign and UAE investments especially in its markets through the introduction of various incentives and facilities.

The UAE pays much attention to strengthening its trade and economic relations with Ethiopia thanks to its natural resources that offer promising opportunities to invest in a number of sectors on top of the UAE's development agenda, particularly in agriculture and food security as well as the transport and tourism sectors in parallel to the presence of a number of UAE companies in the Ethiopian market and the increase of direct flights between the two countries

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has announced the introduction of the "Distance Work" program at its membership services department that allows employees to complete their tasks through the "flexible duty hours " system without the need to attend the workplace.

Mariam Al Shamsi, Director General Assistant for the Support Services Sector, said that the launch of the distance work system is part of the Chamber's commitment to the vision of the UAE in general and the Sharjah emirate’s in particular to move towards smart and sustainable services and improve government services, enhance Sharjah’s economy and its contribution to the status of the UAE as a major player in global trade by providing an exemplary work environment, modern services and sophisticated initiatives to serve different sectors of the economy, in line with the directives of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to adopt the latest systems, programs and administrative and technological solutions that ensure the improvement of government services in accordance with the highest standards of institutional excellence.

Al Shamsi pointed out that the adoption of the remote work system at the Chamber came after a careful study of the best practices in this field; experience has shown that remote work has many advantages, most notably transcending time and space barriers, saving transportation costs and time, avoiding pressure, reducing dispersion and focusing on health, safety and fitness. Al Shamsi pointed out that this system is not without  disadvantages that can be mitigated, notably isolation and lack of social interaction, difficulty of concentration, separation between home and work, lack of  competitiveness and the need for greater discipline and motivation. But the Chamber will ensure that employees' productivity is monitored and enhanced by measuring performance on a results basis to  achieve career objectives at the highest levels of professionalism, enhance the effectiveness of services and the sustainability of operations.

Saif Abdallah Al Matroushi, Director of the Membership Services Department, said that the implementation of the distance work program aims to support flexible work methods and has positively influenced employees’ performance and customers' happiness, in addition to its role in increasing productivity, facilitating procedures and simplifying them for clients with added value which will positively impact the business community.

Al-Matroushi said that remote working requires working outside the traditional work place by means of communication and information technology and pointed the contractual relationship with the "remote" worker that is subject to the provisions of the work system. Appointment through a contract stating explicitly that working for the employer is done remotely and specifies the place or places where work can be performed, job duties, job description, number of working hours, start and end times, amount of remuneration, all rights and allowances in addition to  any other entitlements stipulated by the internal rules and regulations adopted by the Chamber.

Al Matroushi added that staff appointment according to the mechanism remote work includes the Chamber’s commitment to ensure public safety at the workplace when determining the location or workplaces remotely to maintain the safety of the employee, and does not require that duty hours for remote work be the same as working hours at the work place and can be determined according to the circumstances, the nature and need, taking into consideration the provisions of the general law as well as internal procedure. Staff have to be selected by the Chamber and with the consent of the line manager, while the remote employee is subject to all provisions, duties and rights related to salary and social security.

The remote work program brings together the employer with the employee through an electronic work environment through which the functions are performed without the need to attend the workplace. The  remote work program contributes to bridging the gap that prevents  many people from finding suitable jobs as it helps two main categories of national cadres to join the labor market, women and people of determination, by offering flexible employment opportunities that mitigate difficulties of transportation and the need for some women to take care of children while working.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt in the UAE opened the permanent exhibition for the Egyptian industries and building materials in the permanent Egyptian commercial center in Sharjah.

The new Egyptian trade fair which was recently opened in the permanent Egyptian commercial center within Sharjah Expo City project and attended by HE Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman, and HE Wael Gad, Egyptian Ambassador to the UAE, comprises various exhibits including building materials, hand-made carpets, wood products, garments and other high quality Egyptian products. The event was attended by representatives of several entities, major industrial companies and the National Service Authority in Egypt, well as the Federation of Egyptian Industries.

The opening ceremony was attended by HE Ali Mohammed Al Khayyal and HE Raghda Hamad Omran Taryem, board members,  Mohammed Ahmed Amin, Assistant Director General for the Communication and Business Sector, HE Ambassador Jamal Al Bayoumi, former Egyptian foreign minister  and Chair of Arab Investors Union, HE Tariq Hussain, Consul General of Egypt in, Dr. Yunan Edward, head of the Egyptian Trade Office in Dubai, Mohamed Al Maghrabi, Trade Consul as well as a number of officials from both sides and businessmen from Sharjah and Egypt.

HE Abdulla Sultan Al Owais, Chairman, said that the exhibition comes within the framework of the Center's program and the permanent Egyptian trade exhibition for organizing economic events introducing the commercial and industrial sectors of the Arab Republic of Egypt, creating and developing economic relations with a number of countries within the framework of the ambitious economic vision of Sharjah emirate and the directives of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah and the diligent follow-up of HH Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah.

Al Owais expressed his hope for the permanent Egyptian Trade exhibition to contribute to promoting cooperation and coordination between the UAE and Egyptian business communities to a wider level of joint work. The exhibition will serve as a role model and reflect the growth and development of Egyptian products in various sectors and make Egyptian products permanently available in domestic markets. Al Owais added that the launch of the exhibition represents a translation of one of the most important objectives for which the Egyptian Trade Center was established and stressed the Chamber's commitment to providing all means of support to Egyptian  companies operating in the emirate, thus enhancing close ties and increasing brotherly ties and trade and cultural exchange between Sharjah and Egypt and establishing joint ventures in various sectors and vital areas.

For his part HE Wael Gad, Egyptian Ambassador to the UAE, expressed his pride in Egypt’s stature in the UAE and  conveyed his sincere thanks and appreciation to His Highness Ruler of Sharjah for the direct support and care Egyptian offered by His Highness Ruler of Sharjah and Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Ambassador Gad said the opening of the exhibition is part of the Egyptian Center's plan to familiarize the UAE market with Egyptian products and stressed the Egyptian Embassy’s keenness to support every activity that contributes to the development of relations between the two countries at all levels, and he pointed out that the exhibition deserves all support to enable it to achieve its objectives in the interests of the two countries.

For his part, Ambassador Jamal Al Bayoumi expressed his hope for the exhibition to contribute to enhancing trade exchange between Egypt and the UAE and increase mutual investment between the two sides and stressed Egyptian businessmen’s keenness to contribute effectively to economic relations between the two countries and enhance their contribution to the private sector’s development by strengthening investment partnerships and implementing joint projects, especially in the industrial sector, and double the trade exchange of Arab products.

In his turn, Dr. Yunan Edward pointed out that the Commercial Office in Dubai will support the permanent exhibition through an integrated operational plan to introduce the UAE business community to the services provided by the exhibition and the areas of cooperation and investment opportunities it offers. He thanked Sharjah Chamber for its continuous efforts and support to Egyptian businessmen and companies operating in the emirate.

The quarry division established a protocol for cooperation with the organizing company of the exhibition, in agreement with the Egyptian Trade Center, in order to activate the Egyptian export development strategy. The quarry division hopes for the exhibition to become an honorable window for Egyptian products that will help open new markets in the Gulf region in general and the UAE in particular and provide opportunities for importers in the Gulf and east Asian countries to learn about the excellent Egyptian products to be displayed throughout the year.

The permanent Egyptian commercial exhibition was built on 1900 square meters and comprises a built area of 3750 square meters in one of the distinguished areas in Sharjah city within the Expo City project to promote and market Egyptian products in the UAE, the Gulf region and re-export countries. The Center is one of the Chamber's initiatives aimed at encouraging various countries to establish permanent trade centers and exhibitions in Sharjah in order to offer their products and services directly to the local market and serve as platforms for businessmen to promote and introduce their activities through an important hub for organizing specialized fairs as every country has its own resources for investment, industry and production.

The Board of Directors of the Emirates Association for the Development of Franchise discussed the final requirements and procedures to complete its full membership in the International Association of Excellence. The secretary general of the Association expected the UAE Association to fully join the International Association by this November.

In a meeting hosted by Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and attended by the Secretary-General of the International Association of Excellence, the Board of Directors of the Association reviewed the conditions and mechanisms for achieving permanent membership of the Association after earning the designation of an observer member last October.

The meeting, chaired by HE Mohammed Hilal Al Muhairi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI) and Chairman of the UAE Association for the Development of Franchise, discussed the benefits of the Association's membership in the International Association and the future work plans and projects of the Association. The meeting was attended by HE Mohammed Ali Hilal Al Hazami, board member of Sharjah Chamber, vice chairman of the Association, board members of the Association Hamad Ali Abdullah Al Mahmoud, HE Aref Al Mazaki, Mr. Ahmed Bin Ghannam, Ms. Moza Al Nassiry, in addition to Dr. Hatem Mostafa Zaki, secretary general of the International Association of Excellence.

HE Mohammed Hilal Al Muhairi, director general of Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and chairman of Emirates Franchise Development Association stressed the Association’s endeavors to achieve its full and permanent membership in the International Association of Excellence as soon as possible in order to make up most use of the franchise sector across the UAE and exchange expertise, in order to consolidate entrepreneurial thinking and encourage young Emiratis to adopt the concepts of research, innovation and creativity in their future projects.

Al Muhairi said that the Association is working hard through its new strategy to enhance its role and make an effective contribution to the provision of services, counseling, and guidance to entrepreneurs in the field of franchises in accordance with the directives of the wise leadership to support and empower young Emiratis economically through preparing and qualifying them scientifically and practically to carry out all economic activities on an advanced professional level and best international practices in this field, adding that the Association looks forward to cooperating with the International Association of Excellence, which will contribute to the development of franchise opportunities in the UAE to cover various sectors of the economy and specifically in the fields of industry, services, tourism, education and health so as not to be limited to the food and beverage sector only. Al Muhairi expressed his thanks to Sharjah Chamber for hosting the Association's meeting with the International Association of Excellence, and commended its pioneering initiatives in this field.

HE Mohammed Ali Hilal Al Hazmi, board member, Sharjah Chamber,  and vice chairman of the Emirates Association for the Development of Franchise, expressed Sharjah Chamber's delight in hosting the Board meeting of the Emirates Franchise Association and stressed the Chamber’s keenness to support all efforts made by the Association to achieve it Strategy Plan 2018-2020, as part of the Chamber’s endeavors to assist entrepreneurs and SMEs, in line with the directives of the wise leadership of the UAE and the wise vision of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to harness all efforts to help entrepreneurs and Emiratis and encourage them to make innovation part of their work culture to enhance their role and contributions to the journey of comprehensive development witnessed by the UAE and accelerate its transformation towards a knowledge economy.

Al-Hazami pointed out that the launch of the Association's functions within the framework of its ambitious strategic plan augurs well and establishes a new stage of work and promising projects that serve the pioneers for the benefit of entrepreneurs across the UAE. He said that the Association will form an umbrella for young Emiratis to establish their own projects through franchises and the promotion of a creative entrepreneurship culture as a tool for investment and business development.

Al-Hazami added that Sharjah Chamber has spared no effort in providing an innovative platform for the pioneers of this sector to enhance their business growth and prosperity, which has been going on for many years through providing facilities, launching awards, providing incentives and organizing awareness events among others, as part of the Chamber’s strategy to participate actively in the promotion of the policy of economic diversification adopted by the UAE and as the first representative of the private sector across Sharjah emirate, and he expressed his gratitude to His Excellency Abdullah bin Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the Board of Sharjah Chamber, for providing facilities to host the Association’s meeting with the participation of the International Association of Excellence, as well as for supporting the Association and all its efforts to upgrade the UAE’s franchise sector.

Dr. Hatim Mustafa Zaki, Secretary General of the International Association of Excellence, said that the meeting was held with the aim of informing the board of directors of the Emirates Franchise Association of the final conditions and procedures necessary to complete the full and permanent membership of the Association in addition to introducing the benefits of such membership and the work plans of  the International Association of Excellence and its future projects.

Zaki noted that the UAE Franchise Association was accepted as an observer in October 2017 and expressed his expectation that full membership will be achieved by November 2018. He explained that membership of the UAE Association in the International Association would contribute to the implementation of the best Franchise global practices in the UAE, introducing UAE-based entrepreneurs to the advantages of the franchise system and facilitate their mission to penetrate markets overseas. There are more than 40,000 franchises under the franchise system that contribute about 3% of the world's Gross Domestic Product.

As part of its Strategic Plan 2018-2020 the UAE Franchise Association is organizing the UAE's franchise businesses and activities to achieve good practices and protect the rights of all parties, particularly UAE brand entrepreneurs, to expand globally and provide them with information.

The UAE Franchise Association is one of the initiatives of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI), an independent federal institution and the first of its kind in the Gulf to promote the growth of small and medium enterprises in the first place and to promote and market products made by Emiratis in all fields as an umbrella that provides training and marketing for entrepreneurs and their brands and  local companies interested in the Franchise at the federal level to open  branches abroad. The Association is the first institution in the GCC countries concerned with the franchise sector to join the International Association of Excellence as an observer.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) took part in the Riyadh Travel Fair to market the Best 10 Gulf Establishments Award and to introduce Sharjah Award for Economic Excellence and its role in creating a competitive and encouraging environment among the UAE and Gulf business communities.

Nada Al Hajri, General Coordinator of the Sharjah Economic Excellence Award, said that Sharjah Chamber’s participation in the Riyadh Travel Fair, held  10-13 April, comes in cooperation and partnership with the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority to make use of Sharjah’s promotion and community service programs.

Al Hajri stressed Sharjah Chamber’s keenness to actively contribute to spreading institutional excellence and establish quality standards among the GCC business community by encouraging the adoption of corporate governance, adherence to the highest standards of quality, applying global best practices, sustain investment in human resources, enhance creativity and innovation and develop social responsibility values and eco-friendly practices.

Al-Hajeri added that promoting the Sharjah Economic Excellence Award is part of the promotional and marketing plan for the award, especially the category for "the Best 10 Gulf Establishments Award", launched two years ago, and the category for the "Sharjah Award for Gulf Nationalization", through a ceremony honoring the winners of the award for 2017, and she pointed out that taking part in the exhibition aims to arrange face-to-face meetings with businessmen and companies participating in the event, to highlight the award and the mechanisms and conditions set for nomination and the benefits and incentives granted to the winning companies.

During the annual awards ceremony held last January, Sharjah Chamber announced the launch of a seventh category in the third GCC-wide edition titled "Sharjah Gulf Nationalization Award", in the context of the ongoing development and updating of the award, to honor companies that most employed national Gulf cadre, in constructive and productive partnership with the Federation of GCC Chambers and in light of the recommendations of the Fifth Gulf Resources Conference, organized by the Sharjah Chamber last October under the theme "Gulf Human Capital ... A promising Wealth".

The 2017 edition of the Sharjah Economic Excellence Award saw the  participation of a number of remarkable Gulf entities in the category of the Best 10 Gulf Establishments in its first year, representing various economic sectors, which is a category that enjoys the Federation of GCC Chambers’ support.

Sharjah Chamber had organized last year a tour to familiarize a number of GCC countries including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and the Kingdom of Bahrain with the Award, as part of the promotional phase of the "Best 10 Gulf Establishments", which aims to encourage companies from the private sector and individuals to participate in the Award in order to stimulate creativity in various economic sectors.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) concluded its participation in the 8^th edition of the  Annual Investment Meeting 2018 through Sharjah emirate’s pavilion which showcased key services offered by the Chamber, part of its efforts to enhance the role of economic establishments and attract foreign investments, promoting Sharjah's position as an attractive and promising investment destination and a major commercial hub in the region.

During the meeting, the Chamber met with the CCPIT delegation of Ningxia Province of China, the delegation of the Republic of South Korea, representatives of the National State Investment Promotion Company of Kazakhstan, the Morocco Investment Agency and the Jordan Investment Agency.

HE Abdulla bin Sultan Al Owais, Chairman, said that the Chamber's participation in the Meeting and exhibition came to its importance as  a leading international platform for foreign direct investment and as an annual opportunity for the Chamber to enhance its strategic communication with policy makers and economic and government representatives and business leaders from around the world, to promote investment and introduce the promising and ambitious development projects and attractive features offered by the emirate, including the services and facilities provided to the business community in the emirate.

Al Owais added: "Our participation comes within the framework of the Chamber's 2018 work plan which focuses on international and regional forums and activities in order to build cooperation and partnerships with new parties, exchange information and expertise, promote the outstanding investment environment in the emirate and the great opportunities it enjoys, and introduce the Chamber's services to the business sector in Sharjah. "

Al-Owais discussed with the vice president of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) of the Chinese province of Ningxia ways to develop economic cooperation that dates back 20 years, increase trade exchange and promote joint investment between the business community in Sharjah and its counterpart in Ningxia Province. The two sides discussed the joint promotion of economic events held in both Sharjah and the Chinese province, which will allow businessmen and investors from both sides to identify opportunities for investment and build partnerships in order to promote trade exchange between the two countries.

Al-Owais further discussed with the delegation of the Republic of South Korea ways to develop and strengthen economic relations and enhance trade exchange between Sharjah and South Korea. The two sides reviewed the possibility of organizing joint events for businessmen from both countries, which will contribute to introducing investment opportunities and strengthen cooperation and the exchange of experiences to serve the interests of the two sides.

In the same context, Al-Owais met the president of the State Investment Promotion Company of Kazakhstan, where they discussed ways to strengthen trade and mutual investment between Sharjah and Kazakhstan and coordinate efforts to open up more opportunities for economic cooperation, trade exchange and investment projects between the two sides in the framework of friendly relations between the UAE and Kazakhstan.

For his part, HE Waleed Abdulrahman Bukhater, Second Deputy Chairman, held a number of business meetings with several foreign and Arab delegations. HE Hisham Boudraa, Director General of the Moroccan Agency for Investment Development and Freedoun Hartouqa, Secretary General of the Investment Authority in Jordan, in the presence of members of the board of directors HE Ahmed Al Naboodah, HE Ahmed Al Shehhi, HE Nasser Al Tanaiji, and a number of executives from the Department of International Relations in the Chamber, where the two meetings witnessed the introduction of the services provided by each party to their clients and their role in promoting investment and attracting, encouraging and promoting foreign investment and ensuring the sustainability of the attractive investment climate. The meeting focused on promoting mechanism for attracting foreign  investment, creating employment opportunities, integrating into regional and global markets, revitalizing the economic movement, enhancing the investment environment and boosting exports.

During its participation in the international exhibition accompanying the forum Sharjah Chamber received a number of businessmen, investors and representatives of government and private institutions participating in both the forum and the exhibition; participated in a number of workshops to promote investment opportunities in the emirate and to introduce the Chamber's services.

The forum witnessed the participation of dignitaries, official delegations and businessmen from some 140 regional and international countries, while the exhibition attracted more than 250 government-owned companies from 125 countries.

HE Sheikh Khalid Bin Issam Al Qassimi, Chairman of Sharjah Civil Aviation, inaugurated the 44^th edition of the MidEast Watch and Jewellery Show on Tuesday at Expo Centre Sharjah.

The show was launched under the patronage of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and with support from the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Sheikh Khalid Bin Issam Al Qassimi toured the 30,000-square meter exhibition, which will continue until April 7. The show features the participation of more than 500 brands and companies that specialize in the design and manufacture of watches and jewellery, as well as accessories and ornaments made with gold, diamonds, precious stones, pearls and others.

Sheikh Khalid Bin Issam Al Qassimi also met with a number of exhibitors and officials of the national pavilions that are participating in the event. The current edition of the show features national pavilions from several countries known for manufacturing fine watches and jewellery, which includes India, Hong Kong, Italy, Lebanon, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. The exhibition also includes the participation of leading brands and companies from the United Kingdom, Japan, Russia, the United States, Latvia, Lithuania, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Jordan, Bahrain, Turkey, Taiwan, Yemen and the UAE.

Sheikh Khalid Bin Issam Al Qassimi was accompanied by HE Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the SCCI; HE Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), HE Waleed AbdelRahman BuKhatir, Second Vice Chairman of the SCCI; HE Khalid Bin Butti Al Hajri, Director-General of the SCCI; HE Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah; and a number of board members of both the SCCI and Expo Centre Sharjah. The inauguration was also attended by various government officials, diplomats, traders and representatives from the watch and jewellery industry.

During his tour, Sheikh Khalid Bin Issam Al Qassimi viewed modern and traditional designs and innovations of watches and jewellery. He visited the Indian pavilion, which is the show’s largest pavilion that includes 60 companies displaying their latest designs and creations. He also visited the Hong Kong pavilion, which is the second largest pavilion in the exhibition with 58 participating exhibitors, and other pavilions for countries that are known for the manufacturing of watches and jewellery, including Italy, Malaysia, Singapore, Lebanon and Thailand.

After the tour, Sheikh Khalid Bin Issam Al Qassimi praised Expo Centre Sharjah for its ability to organize the MidEast Watch and Jewellery Show twice a year while also successfully maintaining the event’s quality and reputation. He added that attracting more than 500 exhibitors to participate in the 44^th edition of the show is an indication of its growing importance for businessmen, investors, traders, experts and representatives from the watch and jewellery industry.

HE Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), stressed the keenness of the SCCI to continue supporting Expo Centre Sharjah in organizing international events that enhance Sharjah's status as a leading regional economic centre that attracts investors from around the world. Al Owais added that the MidEast Watch and Jewellery Show is one of the important economic events on the centre’s agenda annually, due to its continuous success in attracting the most important global brands in the industry. Brands and companies are attracted to the bi-annual exhibition because it meets the needs of traders and consumers from various markets in the region, whose population have a high purchasing power compared to other regions of the world.

HE Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah, said that the show continues to succeed in increasing its turnout and in attracting brands from around the world. He stated that the success of the exhibition is aided by the strength of the gold market in the UAE, which is considered as one of the most important countries in terms of both gold exports and average per capita consumption of gold. He also welcomed traders and visitors to come and learn about the latest designs and innovations in the field of jewellery and watches.

The exhibition provides visitors the opportunity to buy directly from manufacturers and offers them a chance to win valuable prizes through lucky draws for every purchase of Dh500 and above. The prizes include a daily draw for half a kilo of gold, in addition to the bumper draw for a BMW that takes place on the last day of the exhibition. 

The Hong Kong pavilion also plans to offer many prizes to its visitors. The exhibition will be held under the sponsorship of Salem Al Shueibi Jewellery, the Platinum Sponsor of the show, and Khaleej Times, the media partner for the show.

The event is being held amidst expectations for the global precious stones and jewellery market to record a compound annual growth rate of over 7 percent by 2019, according to a report by TechSci Research.

Meanwhile, the UAE’s luxury goods market is expected to grow from US$3.18 billion in 2004 to US$8.98 billion before the end of the current decade.

The show opens its doors from 4 pm to 10 pm on Wednesday and on Thursday from 12 noon to 11 pm. The exhibition will also be open from 3 pm to 11 pm on Friday and 12 noon to 10 pm on Saturday. The exhibition will be exclusively reserved for women on Wednesday from 12 noon to 4 pm. Admission is Free for all

Sharjah Training and Development Center at Sharjah Chamber organized Thursday a training program themed “Building Team Work Skills and Enhancing Taking Initiatives and Social Enablement.”

A number of male and female staff from different departments at the Chamber took part in the session presented by Dr. Fouad Qassim Al Shuaibi, professor of law and knowledge management expert at the general directorate of Dubai police, which comprised the different training aspects and team work building that serves the key objectives of a corporate’s strategy and a model environment for launching initiatives on par with the overall performance with clear parameters of assessment to double efforts made to enable staff to be creative in their specializations or beyond the scope of their duties. 

At the conclusion of the session Mariam Saif Al Shamsi, Director General Assistant for the Support Services Sector, gave participants certificates as well as a certificate of appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Al Shuaibi for his efforts that made the program a success, which is part of the Center’s work plan to spread and enhance knowledge and provide programs that serve the Chamber’s staff and increase their knowledge and skills.

Sharjah Training and Development Center is concerned with qualifying staff in accordance with an annual training plan that is linked to partnerships of strategic collaboration with various local and federal government entities as well as academia to serve a broad segment of representatives of the private and public sectors. 

The real estate investment exhibition ECRS 2018, organized by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Real Estate Registration Department, the Real Estate Sector Business Group in Sharjah and hosted by the Expo Center Sharjah, witnessed the signing of a large number of real estate deals that made use of the diversity of investment options and financing facilities offered by real estate companies participating in the event.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, the event was attended by businessmen, investors and property buyers who were introduced to real estate products And promising opportunities and investment in this vital sector of Sharjah throughout the event.

The exhibition was attended by more than 45 local and foreign companies and institutions specialized in real estate development and investment who presented a wide range of offers to those wishing to invest and capitalize on Sharjah's status as an attractive investment destination, especially in products that gave visitors and investors various options that satisfied their ambitions and met their needs.

The visitors praised the meticulous organization of the exhibition and the projects and services it included, attesting to the high credibility of the real estate products showcased by the exhibitors over three days, and the variety of new products, projects, offers and exclusive releases.

The exhibition opened its doors to visitors on Wednesday March 21 and received large numbers of visitors looking for housing units and projects,  real estate, tourism and commercial facilities of various space areas, services, financing and perks offered by investors, real estate developers and exhibitors.

ICERS 2018 witnessed a number of specialized seminars on the legal aspects of investment in real estate, in which a number of institutions and legal specialists participated and a number of workshops were organized to raise awareness among representatives of the private sector and visitors on investment in real estate and marketing through social media, in addition to exchanging views and listening to experts  answering  questions on the management of real estate and introducing investment opportunities in this sector.

HE Khalid Bin Butti Al Hajri, Director General, thanked Expo Centre Sharjah for supporting the exhibition and thanked the Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department, the Real Estate Sector Business Group and all the parties that cooperated and contributed to the exhibition.

Al Hajri stressed Sharjah Chamber’s keenness to support the real estate sector in Sharjah, adding that increasing the volume of investments in this sector confirms the confidence it enjoys locally and regionally, which is key to achieving economic stability, increasing trade, and supporting the national economy.

HE Saif Mohammed Al Midfaa, CEO, Expo Center Sharjah, said organizing ECRS annually  is in line with Sharjah's vision to diversify the emirate's income sources and its endeavors to transform into a financial and real estate hub, supporting the real estate sector as one of the fastest growing sectors in the country and estimated at Dh918 billion  (USD 250 billion).

Saeed Ghanem Al Suwaidi, Chairman of the Real Estate Sector Representative Committee, said that the real estate investment exhibition "ECRS" proved its ability to provide new investment in real estate in the emirate and contributed greatly to attracting investors and opening wider horizons to revitalize the sector in the emirate.

Al Suwaidi pointed out that this year's exhibition witnessed fierce competition among real estate developers in terms of providing a valuable packages of rare real estate opportunities, as well as discounts and offers on prices and facilities in payment and financing for residential and commercial projects.

The exhibition was supported by Expo Center Sharjah and sponsored by Tilal Properties, Sharjah Municipality, the Planning and Survey Department, Sharjah Media Foundation and the Sharjah Roads & Transport Authority.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry honored its outstanding employees with its Excellence Award 2017 at the annual ceremony held this year at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre, celebrating another year of hard work and diligent efforts that culminated in achievements and successes.

The ceremony was attended by HE Abdulla Sultan Al Owais, Chairman, HE Waleed Abdulrahman Bukhatr, Second Deputy Chairman, HE Khalid Bin Butti Al Hajri, Director General, HE Saif Mohammed Al Midfaa, CEO, Expo Center Sharjah, representatives of the Chamber’s strategic partners, guests, staff members and sponsors of the event.

HE Al Owais opened the ceremony with a speech praising the achievements and successes of the Chamber and all its affiliate institutions throughout 2017, with staff members who are proud to belong to this pioneering and ambitious institution, working as one team to achieve the UAE’s interests.

Al Owais stressed that serving the national economy and the business community in Sharjah require cadres of various levels of career and leadership to make more efforts for more excellence, creativity and innovation,  enhancing the UAE’s leadership and Sharjah’s stature and  uniqueness.

Al Owais called on all employees to be the righteous sons of the founding fathers, considering the bright present as the first fruits of the wise vision set by the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan (may Allah bestow His mercy upon him): “Continuing on the journey started by "Zayed Al-Khair" requires all of us to perform our duties to the best of our abilities for our sons’ and daughters’ interests, as well as accelerating the pace of development and double the giving to move forward firmly and faithfully in the footsteps of the wise leadership that harnesses wealth to build the nation and the citizen through education and building a society and a knowledge economy”, Al Owais said.

Al Owais continued: "Many of our parents are not college graduates but 99 percent of you are university graduates today, and this is but one example of the qualitative leap that has been made and the amount of work done by the UAE in record time. We are meeting today to speak from the heart and call on you to continue to work as a team for the homeland’s interest”.

Al Owais concluded by thanking His Highness Dr. Shaik Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, for their unlimited support to enable the Chamber to provide the business community in Sharjah with the best services and achieve a sustainable economy in the emirate. Al Owais also paid tribute to the Emirati mother on the occasion of Mother's Day by saying that the best young men and women are in the fields of science and the labor force with the support of  virtuous mothers who succeeded in encouraging generations to achieve academic success, work and creativity.

For his part, HE Khalid Bin Butti Al Hajri, said that this ceremony is an annual occasion dedicated to honoring the best departments and members of the Chamber who have excelled in the past years and worked in line with the Chamber’s vision to achieve the wise vision of our leadership President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who constantly emphasizes the need to improve the performance of the institutions operating in Sharjah, caring for human resources in all categories and making creativity and innovation the means to providing the best services for the development of the commercial sector in our beloved Sharjah.

Nada Al Hajri, member of the jury, delivered a speech on Sharjah Chamber Excellence Award in which she stressed that this year's award selected members of the judging teams based on the highest standards of scientific and practical expertise, in addition to the establishment of grade points based on accurate mechanisms to ensure absolute neutrality and reduce the probability of errors. Al Hajri pointed out that the most prominent feature of this edition of the Award is the formation of a higher judging committee that has thoroughly reviewed all grades and discussed the assessors and the relationship between grades and evidence, and she explained that all nominees were interviewed, the evidence scrutinized and all observations recorded in order to provide constructive follow-up reports as the final product of the evaluations and a summary of the strengths as well as the opportunities for improvement for departments, teams or individuals.

On behalf of Sharjah Chamber Excellence Award’s team Nada Al Hajri thanked the Chairman, board of directors, Director General,  Expo Center and the Sharjah International Commercial Arbitration Center for their support for this panel, making possible this opportunity which has earned praise as one of the best applied management practices in the development and motivation of institutions to keep pace with modernization and innovation.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, a short film was shown in appreciation for mothers, followed by a competitive match between Sharjah Chamber and Expo Center’s staff members in an information contest, and then a dinner banquet and entertainment  followed.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, represented by the Real Estate Sector Business Group and in cooperation with Ernst & Young, organized a workshop themed "The Impact of Value Added Tax on the Real Estate Sector and Owners of Private Property” at its headquarters, in order to introduce the current variables in the regulations and legislations related to the business community, review the latest developments in the economic arena and its impact on its affiliate members’ performance of the private sector in Sharjah, emphasizing the activation of the role of sectoral business groups under its umbrella,

The workshop was attended by Khalid Bin Butti Al Hajri, Director General, Mohammed Ahmed Amin, Director General Assistant for the Communication and Business Sector, Saeed Ghanem Al Suwaidi, Chairman of the Representative Committee of the Real Estate Sector Business Group and representatives of the concerned authorities.

The workshop on value added tax comes within the work plan of the representative committee of the business groups of the real estate sector to  provide awareness programs for its members and activate its performance in the service of the sector, keep abreast of the ongoing changes, continue to  perform its role positively and enhance its functions and services.

The workshop discussed introducing value added tax and its impact on the sector and what is expected of each business to comply with record keeping and timing as well as financial statements and the preparation of the reporting system, how to send VAT revenues, review their regulations and assess their impact on business systems and processes.

The workshop also considered the impact of VAT on the structure of companies and real estate in the country, most notably the pioneering practices to design the structure family business ownership and real estate, and the importance of considering the reorganization of property at the present time to comply with VAT. The workshop also discussed ownership structures that can be envisaged for owning shares and real estate in light of asset protection and facilitating their transfer to the second generation.

Khalid Bin Butti Al Hajeri, Director General, said this workshop was organized to introduce tax mechanisms to real estate companies, exchange views, listen to expert opinions and answer queries from individuals working in this field.

"Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry is keen, through its workshops and seminars, to moderate the various views, inform representatives of the private sector and business owners about all that is related to the  economy, as  tax will benefit the business community through the launch of development projects and modernization of infrastructure, enhancing the UAE economy’s attractiveness and its international competitive indicators.

For his part, Saeed Ghanem Al Suwaidi, Chairman of the Representative Committee of the Real Estate Sector Business Group, said that the workshop was part of the committee's program to develop a series of events that enhance the efficiency of knowledge in various aspects related to the nature of their activities as well as the current changes in the economic community in general and that workshops have helped shed light on points that affect the periodic operational aspect of those working in the real estate sector and we always seek through the business group to enhance the sector's standing and functioning, and he expressed his appreciation for the international expertise  in organizing these events which we look forward to establishing more of in the future and Sharjah Chamber’s support for the Business Groups representative committee’s Programs.

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), the Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department and the Real Estate Sector Business Group in Sharjah have announced that they have completed the preparations for the 5^th edition of the Acres 2018 real estate exhibition, which is being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah. The exhibition will be held at Expo Centre Sharjah from the 21^st to the 23^rd of March.

The exhibition aims to highlight the boom in Sharjah’s urban development, and the many investment opportunities that exist in this vital sector. The exhibition also aims to support the workers in the real estate sector through the promotion of real estate projects, and through attracting investors from all over the country and abroad to come and witness the latest developments and investment opportunities in the real estate sector in Sharjah, and the incentives provided by the emirate to this important sector.

HE Saeed Ghanim Al Suwaidi, Chairman of Real Estate Sector business Group, stated that the number of companies participating in the new edition of the exhibition has increased by 50% compared to the previous edition. He expects that the exhibition will attract many investors, especially since a number of developers will offer special prices during the exhibition.

Al Suwaidi pointed out that the 5^th edition of Acres will hold a number of workshops, seminars and panel discussions during the exhibition, where they will be headed and presented by a number of heads of departments that related to the real estate sector, as well as directors of some of Sharjah’s leading companies that specialize in real estate investment and development, in cooperation with the Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department and the Real Estate Sector Business Group in Sharjah. These workshops and seminars will help introduce investors, participants and employees in the real estate sector to the administrative and investment aspects of the sector, and help to clarify the laws and facilities that encourage investment in Sharjah.

Al Suwaidi praised the great role played by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and the Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department in promoting the investment opportunities that are available in the emirate. He also commended the concerted efforts of the various governmental institutions and departments that are related to the real estate sector in the Emirate of Sharjah, and their work in supporting the exhibition, which is hoped to have a significant role in elevating ideas and projects that help develop the real estate sector and achieve the vision of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, in making Sharjah a leading role model in this field. 

Acres 2018 targets real estate developers, construction companies, real estate agents, banks and financial institutions, architectural and interior design firms, governmental real estate agencies, insurance companies, legal consultancy firms, property management companies, property owners, engineering companies and project management companies.

The Acres exhibition, which is one of the most prominent events in the real estate industry, attracts and encourages developers and investors to take advantage of the boom in the real estate market, and to learn about the latest developments in the UAE, Gulf and Middle East real estate markets, as well as providing an opportunity to meet with investors closely.

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), the Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department and the Real Estate Sector Business Group in Sharjah have announced the details for the 5^th edition of the Acres 2018 real estate exhibition, which is being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah.

The exhibition, which is organized by the Real Estate Sector Business Group that falls under the umbrella of the SCCI, was announced at a press conference that was held on Tuesday at the SCCI headquarters. The exhibition will be held at Expo Centre Sharjah from the 21^st to the 23^rd of March.

The Acres exhibition, one of the most prominent events in the real estate industry, attracts and encourages developers and investors to take advantage of the boom in the real estate market, and to learn about the latest developments in the UAE, Gulf and Middle East real estate markets, as well as providing an opportunity to meet with investors closely.

Acres 2018 targets real estate developers, construction companies, real estate agents, banks and financial institutions, architectural and interior design firms, governmental real estate agencies, insurance companies, legal consultancy firms, property management companies, property owners, engineering companies and project management companies.

The conference was attended by HE Abdulaziz Rashid Al Saleh, Director-General of the Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department, HE Mohammed Ahmed Amin, Assistant Director-General for the Communication and Business Sector at the SCCI, HE Saeed Ghanim Al Suwaidi, Chairman of Real Estate Sector business Group, and representatives from the governmental, private and media entities that are sponsoring the exhibition, as well as a number of heads and directors of government departments in Sharjah and representatives of the media.

Promotion of investment areas

HE Mohammed Ahmed Amin, Assistant Director-General for the Communication and Business Sector at the SCCI, stated that the organization of Acres for the 5^th consecutive year stems from the Chamber's keenness to promote real estate projects and investment opportunities available in Sharjah, and to support the real estate sector in light of the real estate boom and urban development witnessed by Sharjah and the UAE. He added that the real estate sector is one of the fastest growing sectors in the UAE, with an estimated value of more than Dh918 billion (US $250 billion).

Acres is one of the initiatives of the Real Estate Sector Business Group at the Sharjah Chamber of commerce and Industry. The business group’s objectives include activating communication with the private sector, identifying the real estate sector’s challenges and opportunities and the means of dealing with them, seeking to improve the performance of the real estate market by launching effective and specific work programs, launching initiatives that support the business of the private sector and enhance its role in the economic community, and encouraging investments and working to inform investors of the available opportunities.

Acres has succeeded in becoming a prominent avenue to promote the various different opportunities and prospects available in the UAE real estate market. The exhibition has also become an annual platform that brings together the most prominent real estate developers, property owners, and property consultants to form mutually beneficial partnerships that also benefit the local real estate market

HE Abdullah Al Owais, Chairman, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), and HE Abdul Rahim Rahali, Consul General of the Kingdom of Morocco, discussed ways of cooperation between the Chamber and the consulate and the implementation of joint economic and trade events that help enhance investment and economic and trade relations between the UAE and Morocco.

At a recent meeting attended by HE Khalid Bin Butti Al Hajri, Director General, Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Director of Economic Relations and Marketing department, and Omar Ali Saleh, Director of the International Relations department, the two sides discussed the possibility of organizing economic and commercial activities that contribute to familiarizing investment opportunities for each party, cooperation between the two countries' business communities and building mutual trade and investment partnerships within the private sectors.

The two sides discussed the proposal to organize an official visit to the Kingdom of Morocco comprising representatives of the various economic sectors in the emirate, as well as organizing a trade fair in Morocco for industrial and productive companies operating in Sharjah to find potential partners in the Moroccan market and researching potential fields for cooperation.

HE Abdullah Al Owais praised the strong bilateral relations between the UAE and the Kingdom of Morocco that enjoy the support of the political leadership of both countries. He said that the level of economic cooperation calls for intensifying efforts that enable the private sector to benefit from the investment opportunities and incentives available to increase the size of partnership and increase trade of goods and products that each party is known for, especially since both sides enjoy geographical locations that enable them to access their respective regional markets.

For his part HE Abdul Rahim Rahali, Consul General of the Kingdom of Morocco, praised the strong relations between the UAE and Morocco, stressing his country's keenness to attract UAE businessmen and investors, enhance existing partnership opportunities, develop economic relations and increase trade exchange.

The two sides also discussed the possibility of hosting economic activities under the theme "Morocco Economic Days in Sharjah" to be held at the Expo Center Sharjah and organized by the Chamber in cooperation with the concerned ministry in the Kingdom of Morocco and the sponsorship of the Consulate General of Morocco in Dubai, an effective and multi-dimensional contribution to the development of economic and trade relations between the two countries through the presentation and promotion of the Moroccan side of its various products and services, as well as introducing intellectual and creative products of Morocco in the artistic, cultural and other aspects that deepen human relations And evolution.

His Excellency Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), stressed the industrial sector’s vital role in Sharjah and the industrial products’ prestige, of all categories, in terms of efficiency and quality in the local and foreign markets.

Al Owais noted that the industrial sector in Sharjah has become an effective and influential contributor to the economic development of the country and the sector's products have become a source of pride for in foreign markets, stressing the Chamber’s keenness to continue its efforts to support this vital sector by launching specific initiatives that enhance its position.

Chairman Al Owais praised the industrial sector’s Business Group that is working under the Chamber’s umbrella and the Chamber's endeavor to upgrade this strategic sector to its advanced level.

This came at the first meeting of the representative committee of the Business Group for the Industrial Sector after restructuring, held at the Chamber’s headquarters and attended by HE Abdullah Al Owais, HE Ziad Mahmoud Khairallah, Board member, and with the participation of a number of officials and directors of industrial establishments in Sharjah, and Mohammed Ahmed Amin, Director General Assistant for the Communication and Business Sector, Ibrahim Rashid Al Jarwan, Director of Economic Relations and Marketing department, Yaqoob Yousif Al Qaseer, Industrial Affairs Advisor, and Amgged Awadalkarim Idriss, Head of the Business Groups Section.

During the meeting, the chairman and members of the representative committee of the Group were selected for its new cycle, which witnessed the entry of new members representing various industrial and productive sectors, adding to the Group's future performance and enhancing the sector's role in serving the gross domestic product.

The Chairman welcomed members of the new representative committee and stressed its role in developing the activities of the economic sectors, securing their income, ensuring representation for the largest number of these sectors in the business groups, providing advice and launching initiatives that serve the sector in particular and economic development.

The Chairman explained that the aim for establishing the business groups is to activate continuous communication and positive work between the Chamber and representatives of the economic sectors and to strengthen and support private establishments, study the laws and legislation of interest to each group and provide recommendations.

Al Owais pointed out the importance of the industrial sector’s participation with the trade missions to open new markets, wishing success to all members of the new representative committee for the benefit of both Sharjah and the UAE.

A number of topics related to the development of the local industrial sector and the challenges facing it were discussed in the meeting as well as the business group's work system through a presentation given by the Head of the Business Groups which included an explanation of the organizational structure of the business groups, its objectives,  functions, and the committee member’s specializations and those of the committee’s chairman and his deputy, in addition to the work mechanism for communication between them and the concerned parties.

Lalo Samuel was elected Chairman of the Committee in its new cycle in addition to the committee’s deputy chairman, rapporteur, and its members. Samuel expressed his appreciation for the Chamber's efforts to form business groups that represent the main sectors of the emirate to be their voice, thus supporting the Chamber's efforts to develop each sector’s performance

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) launched three innovative and inspirational initiatives through its participation in a dedicated platform at UAE Innovation Month’s exhibition in Sharjah, inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, which extended to February 21.

The pavilion was honored by a visit from HH the Crown Prince and was attended by HE Khalid Bin Butti Al Hajri, Director General and Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Director of the Economic Relations and Marketing department. The Crown Prince was introduced to the Chamber’s latest smart initiatives that included "Barq", "Follow Me" and the "Digital Economic Board" services.

HE Khalid Bin Butti Al Hajeri, Director General, said that the Chamber's participation in the UAE Innovation Month’s exhibition in Sharjah through a dedicated platform comes as part of its commitment to instill innovation within its institutional mechanisms and encourage the private sector to adopt innovation as a basis for development and growth. This month marks the strategic leap forward in the performance of government and private sector institutions by continuously encouraging initiatives and projects that promote services and products to record levels of excellence, quality and innovation, all combining to achieve the wise leadership’s vision to make the UAE a society happy.

Al Hajeri pointed out that the Chamber's mission within the framework of its strategic plan 2017-2021 is to facilitate the prosperity of the business sectors in Sharjah and enhance their capabilities through coordination with the economic authorities using best practices, as  innovation and creativity are the only way to achieve this goal and achieving leadership at all levels of social and economic.

Premium Package

“Barq”, “Follow Me” and the “Digital Economic Board” represent initiatives within an outstanding package of the latest quality projects developed by the Chamber for its clients as part of adopting a culture of creativity and innovation as a methodology and corporate culture.  

The "Follow Me" initiative impressed visitors at the Chamber's pavilion, which is a robot that accompanies the Chamber’s visitors and leads them to their intended destination in its headquarters by clicking on the control screen, as the robot was programmed to communicate with clients and welcome them.

"Burq" is a service launched by the Chamber under the slogan "Your Happiness is Our Goal", and it’s a device that issues the certificate of origin wherever it is located in Sharjah using "smart" devices placed in a number of selected sites such as air and sea ports, major industrial areas and government departments. With one click the service enables you to obtain a certificate of origin, certified and approved without the need to visit the Chamber’s headquarters.

The "Digital Economic Board" initiative aims to introduce the Chamber's customers and visitors to the daily transactions at the Chamber and a number of other government departments under the slogan "Your Communication is Important to Us." The smart panel provides customers with the most important data, news and economic indicators in the UAE markets that are of interest to them, providing real-time follow-up that will make clients at the heart of the economic and investment business community in Sharjah.

Under the patronage of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the 3^rd International Forum on Innovation and Entrepreneurship was launched today. The Forum is being organized by the College of Business Administration at the University of Sharjah, in cooperation with the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).  The Forum will be held from the 15th to the 18th of February and will take place at the Sharjah Center for Astronomy and Space Sciences.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by HE Khawla Al Mulla, Chairperson of the Sharjah Consultative Council (SCC), HE Abdullah Al Owais, Chairman of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), Dr. Humaid Majol Al Nuaimi, Chancellor of the University of Sharjah, as well as representatives from both the public and private sectors.

The Forum is considered an essential event of the 3^rd edition of UAE Innovation Month in Sharjah, where it has succeeded in attracting a high number of students, entrepreneurs, and prominent international and local experts in the fields of innovation and entrepreneurship.

In his inaugural speech, HE Dr. Humaid Majol Al Nuaimi, Chancellor of the University of Sharjah, stated that the unlimited support of the University by His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah and President of the University of Sharjah (UoS), has helped to make the University one the most prestigious educational institutions in the region, and has helped in developing ideas and curricula that allowed the University to advance in its academic path.

Al Nuaimi stated that the Forum is in line with the wise directives of the UAE Government to celebrate innovators during the month of innovation, where the University of Sharjah has translated this concept into a forum that will foster a culture of innovation among the youth of the future. Al Nuaimi also announced the launch of a logo for the University of Sharjah under the title of "Innovate at University of Sharjah." He added that the new logo helps to distinguish the next stage of the University’s academic path, which aims to cultivate a culture of innovation among students.

During a keynote speech at the Forum, HE Khawla Al Mulla, Chairperson of the Sharjah Consultative Council (SCC), stated that the Sharjah Consultative Council is pleased to announce that they are launching the “Decision System Support” project during the UAE Innovation Month, in cooperation with the University of Sharjah. She added that this project is one of the latest technological initiatives that simplifies decision making and makes use of the latest technologies in supporting businesses and decision makers with their workload by providing them with better services.

HE Abdullah Al Owais, Chairman of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), stated that the fundamentals of a successful and sustainable economy are based on two pillars: innovation and entrepreneurship. He stated that the emirate of Sharjah has managed to reserve a place among the most prominent academic and economic cities in the world due to the close cooperation and constant coordination between the various bodies of the Sharjah community, which helps to serve the common developmental goals under the wise vision of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.

Al Owais stated that the Chamber believes that the sustainability of economic growth partly depends on the capabilities of the Emirate’s youth. He added that the academic institutions in the Emirate help to develop the capabilities of students in accordance with the best international educational standards. He also added that the Forum, which is organized by the University of Sharjah in cooperation with the SCCI, is part of Sharjah’s vision to be among the most innovative cities in the region and the world.

Dr. Amal Al-Ali, Assistant Professor of the College of Business Administration and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Forum, stated that the forum is divided into five key pillars, which includes hosting international speakers who are prominent in the field of innovation, hosting prominent speakers from the UAE community, organizing interactive panel discussions with experts on innovation and entrepreneurship, organizing an innovation exhibition and launching a competition that will promote innovation among students.

Al-Ali stated that the competition is organized according to internationally recognized standards that match the world's most innovative student award competitions, in which the competition requires the students’ innovative projects to have a clear positive impact on society and the environment, to be economically feasible, and to contribute to the growth and development of the economy.

Al-Ali talked about the strategic partnership between the Consultative Council of Sharjah and the University of Sharjah, where they partnered on the “Decision System Support” project, which employs artificial intelligence mechanisms within a sophisticated technology system that aims to analyze data and help decision makers make the right decision, and which will save a lot of time and effort.

The first day of the Forum also witnessed the inauguration of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Exhibition, which included exhibitors made up of young university students, as part of the University's objective to promote entrepreneurship and innovation among students from the University City of Sharjah.

The first day of the forum featured several speakers which included Dr. Abla Abdel-Latif, Chairwoman of the Presidential Advisory Council for Economic Development of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and David Masefield, President of the Canvas Co-working Space in Toowoomba, a leading business and entrepreneurship support organization, who spoke in a session entitled “Incremental vs. Disruptive Innovation: What is it and how has new technology affected companies over the time.” Rasha Abousamra, Lecturer at Higher Colleges of Technology, spoke at a session entitled "Data Money," while HE Sheikha Hind Bint Faisal Al Qassimi, CEO of the Velvet Magazine, concluded the first day of the Forum with a session in which she reviewed Entrepreneur Success Stories, and stories of people who did not succumb to the challenges of pursuing and realizing innovative ideas.

The Forum will continue on Friday with sessions and training workshops on various topics related to innovation, entrepreneurship and development of students' talents and skills. On Saturday, interactive sessions will feature speakers such as Dr. Amal Al-Ali, Assistant Professor of the College of Business Administration and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Forum, who will speak at the Forum in a session entitled "Design Thinking," which is a modern way to develop innovative ideas.

Other speakers will include Saad Al Rubaiaan, Chairman of Kuwait Business Council in Dubai and Managing Partner at CYLKA Communication and CSR, who will discuss how Entrepreneurship can make us happier with examples of role models from UAE Leaders, and Khalfan Jasim, an entrepreneur and former Development Manager at Tejar Dubai, who will review his experience in the entrepreneurial world. David Masefield will also discuss how to develop a startup Ecosystem in a session. On Saturday, Khaled Youssef, Director and a member of Egyptian parliament, and Dr. Khalid Makled, Business Development Manager at Ruwad Establishment, will participate in an evening seminar entitled "Innovation and creativity – Case Study from Media Production".

On the last day of the forum, 12 innovative projects will compete in the Forum's innovation competition, known as the "Sharjah Chamber's Award for Innovators." 4 winners will be chosen at the end of the Forum and the winners will be awarded with cash prizes from Sharjah Chamber.

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has confirmed its sponsorship for the innovation competition of the 3rd International Forum on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which will be titled the Sharjah Chamber's Award for Innovators. This sponsorship reflects the strong partnership between the governmental and educational sectors, which is aimed at promoting the private sector and enhancing its innovation and competitiveness in order to achieve Sharjah’s developmental goals.

The 3rd International Forum on Innovation and Entrepreneurship will be organized by The College of Business Administration at the University of Sharjah, in cooperation with the SCCI. The Forum, which will be held from the 15^th to the 18^th of February, is a local platform that promotes innovation and skill development for students in Sharjah and helps to create an environment that is ideal for innovation.

Sharjah Chamber’s support of the Forum for the second year in a row follows the remarkable success that was achieved in last year’s edition. This support is in line with the Chamber's objectives to support the UAE Innovation Month, and to work with various governmental, private and academic sectors to embed innovation into the fabric of all practices and efforts in the Emirate of Sharjah.

HE Khalid Bin Butti Al Hajri, Director-General of the SCCI, stated that the partnership with the University of Sharjah aims to create a new generation of young entrepreneurs with innovative skills and pioneering ideas that help to serve the country. He added that the Chamber believes that entrepreneurship and innovation are key pillars for enhancing the competitiveness of the UAE economy.

Al Hajri stated that education must be complemented by practical experience, and the Chamber hopes to provide this to students through the Forum, whether through lectures, interactive workshops, or the innovation competition. He added that the Forum will be in line with the wise guidance of the government for the UAE innovation month, as well as being part of the mission of the SCCI to support the growth of Sharjah's economy.

Dr. Amal Al-Ali, Assistant Professor of the College of Business Administration and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Forum, stated that the University of Sharjah is proud to cooperate with the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry in organizing the forum, which proved its importance in fostering a culture of innovation among students. She also stated that the forum is an occasion to celebrate innovation and innovators, and an opportunity to highlight the role of those who support the culture of innovation in the academic sector. She added that she hopes that the cooperation between the University and the SCCI will continue for many years to come, especially since both sides share the same goals and vision in serving the Emirate of Sharjah.

Sharjah Chamber will present cash prizes to the four winners at the end of the innovation competition, which will take place at the end of the innovation week for the Emirate of Sharjah. The jury will choose the winners from the 13 innovative projects that have advanced to the final stage of the competition. The projects were all chosen from participating students from the University City of Sharjah.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) stressed the important role being played by small and medium enterprises in supporting the overall economy and the major sectors, while the Chamber has always sought to support all entrepreneurs through various initiatives and programs in coordination and cooperation with the institutions concerned with supporting enterprises locally and federally.

The Chamber pointed out that it works through its outstanding relations with regional and international bodies and centers to utilize its expertise in serving affiliate small and medium-sized enterprises as well as young people of both sexes who wish to establish their own investment projects.

Through the meeting, which was attended by Mohammed Ahmed Amin, Director General Assistant for Communication and Business sector, Kazumasa Susaki, General Manager of Tokyo SME Support Center, the Japanese delegation accompanying Omar Ali Saleh, Director of the International Relations department and Jamal Saeed Buzangal, Director of the Media Department, Sharjah Chamber praised Japanese expertise in supporting enterprises that the Chamber is looking forward to utilize through the Japanese center to enhance its role of supporting entrepreneurs in Sharjah.

Issues of concern were discussed during the meeting including building a collaboration partnership between the Chamber and the Japanese Center to serve joint interest.

Mohammad Amin praised the outstanding economic relations that bind the two countries and Sharjah Chamber’s role in supporting these relations, and he reviewed the services that are provided by the Chamber and its affiliates to the business community including initiatives, programs, and activities, and he pointed out that holding face-to-face meetings like this are vital for developing partnerships that expand the scope of work and help find new means for serving SMEs and its affiliate members.

The general manager of the Japanese center talked about the services that are provided by the center to support SMEs in Tokyo that account for 11.5% of the total number of businesses in Japan.

Kazumasa Suzuki also gave a summary of  the center since its founding in 1966, its staff of 700 who support 65,000 companies, and exploring prospective investors through a vast data base in order to help its members in the long run. 

Susaki expressed his hope for this meeting to be the starting point for useful future relations that serve both sides and entrepreneurs of SMEs in the two countries.   

The Japanese delegation toured the industrial products pavilion to learn about national products and industries and praised the sector’s development and role in enhancing opportunities for cooperation between SMEs in Sharjah and Japan.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) discussed with the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) ways to enhance cooperation between the two sides to develop the exhibitions and conferences industry in Sharjah and enhancing the skills of the human resources working in the industry.

Recently HE Abdullah Al Oweis, Chairman of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and Chairman of Expo Center Sharjah and Mr. David Dubois, President and CEO of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events, discussed a number of issues that support efforts to promote the exhibitions sector and enhance the emirate's presence on the international exhibitions map.

Al Oweis stressed Sharjah Chamber’s keenness to develop the exhibitions industry in all forms and to improve its performance and services for this sector’s importance in supporting the various economic sectors within the emirate's diversification policy in addition to supporting the business community, enhancing business tourism, increasing occupancy rates of hotels and activating commercial activities.

Al Oweis pointed out that Sharjah Chamber is sparing no efforts in enhancing Expo Center’s reputation as one of the leading institutions operating under its umbrella and to consolidate its standing on the map of the busy exhibitions centers to remain a milestone in the field of organizing some of the most important economic and cultural exhibitions in the region, in line with the wise vision of our leadership.

For his part HE Saif Mohammed Al Midfaa gave a presentation on Expo Center’s agenda and activities and the great expertise in organizing the most the important commercial, economic, cultural and educational events in the region, the strong support received by the Center from the wise leadership of Sharjah, and he pointed out that support for the exhibitions sector in the UAE has resulted in gaining a leading role in organizing and hosting more than 50% exhibitions and conferences across the Middle East and Africa region.

Al Midfaa pointed out that reports and studies confirm the growth rate of exhibition tourism in the UAE alone by 7%, thanks to the rapid preparations for the organization of Expo 2020, as the sector generates 2.39 billion dirhams per year for the national economy and this figure is expected to grow to 5.1 billion dirhams by 2020.

Under the wise vision of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, with the attendance of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) honored the winners of the Sharjah Economic Excellence Award 2017, during an annual ceremony that was held yesterday at Expo Centre Sharjah.

A total of 23 economic institutions and entrepreneurs won awards that belonged to the six Award categories. The Sharjah Chamber, in partnership with the Federation of Chambers of the GCC, announced the launch of a seventh category during the third edition of the Award, under the name of "Sharjah Gulf Localization Award." 

The event was attended by HE Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the SCCI and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Sharjah Economic Excellence Award, as well as members of the Board of Trustees of the Award. 

The ceremony was also attended by a number of Sheikhs, government officials, local authorities, ambassadors and consuls, representatives of Chambers of Commerce of the Gulf countries, as well as a number of the Award’s partners, sponsors and a host of representatives from the private sector and the media. 

Award Winners

The category of “Sharjah Top 10 GCC Businesses Award 2017 " was awarded to Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries Company (ORPIC), Oman India Fertiliser Company (OMIFCO), Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO), Arab Banking Corporation (Bank ABC), Advanced Electronics Company (AEC), Saudi Technology Development and Investment Company (TAQNIA), Sharjah Islamic Bank, Etihad Airways, DP World and Julphar Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries.

The category of “Sharjah Top 10 Businesses Award 2017" was awarded to four establishments which included Aster Pharmacy, Kids Kingdom Nursery, Lulu Hypermarket L.L.C, and Prime Medical Center L.L.C.

The category of “Sharjah UAE Startups Award 2017” was awarded to the Garcia Farm for Agricultural Crops, and Bait Alkandora Gents Tailoring L.L.C (Sharjah Branch). The “Sharjah Entrepreneurs Award 2017” was awarded to both Naeema Qambar Al Amiri and Ferit Engin Oranci.

The Sharjah Green Award 2017 was awarded to both Sharjah Environment Company L.L.C - Bee’ah and Directorate of Public Works (Sharjah). The Sharjah CSR Award 2017 was awarded to Sharjah Environment Company L.L.C – Bee’ah, Sharjah Ladies Club, and Sharjah Social Services Department.

Activities of the Ceremony

The ceremony began with the National Anthem of the UAE and a recitation from the Holy Quran. The audience then watched a video about the Sharjah Economic Excellence Award that highlighted its new identity, objectives, categories, and its working mechanisms. 

HE Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the SCCI and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Sharjah Economic Excellence Award, delivered a speech in which he congratulated the distinguished economic establishments and individuals who won the Sharjah Economic Excellence  Award, which launched by the SCCI with its new identity two years ago, in order to actively contribute to the spreading of a culture of institutional excellence and the establishment of quality standards among the UAE business community.

New Category

Al Owais officially announced the launch of a new category within the Sharjah Economic Excellence Award, which is once again a category that covers economic institutions across the GCC, under the name of “Sharjah Gulf Localization Award.” The Award Category is part of an initiative that seeks to honor and recognize the companies employing the highest number of citizens at the GCC level, which was organized in partnership with the Federation of Chambers of the GCC, and in light of the recommendations of the 5th GCC Human Resources and Labour Market Executive Conference, which was organized and hosted by Sharjah Chamber last October under the slogan “Gulf human capital, a promising wealth”

Al Owais stated that they hope that excellence will become an institutional culture, and that quality will become a daily practice for the UAE, Gulf and Arab private sectors to achieve the leadership and sustainable prosperity.

His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, HE Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, and Nada Al Hajri, General Coordinator of the Awards, honored the partners, sponsors, the Award judges and the evaluation teams, which was followed by the distribution of shields, certificates of appreciation and awards to the winning establishments.

The 2017 Award sponsors included Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, Sharjah Museums Authority, Tahkeem – Sharjah International Commercial Arbitration Centre, Sharjah Tatweer Forum, Sharjah Exports Development Center and the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) as strategic partners, Dar Al Khaleej for Press, Printing and Publishing as the exclusive media partner, as well as Emirates News Agency, Sharjah Government Media Bureau, SME Advisor as media partners, UAE Barq as the social networking partner, and Entrepreneur Middle East as the environmental system partner, and HE Ali bin Thalith as a support partner.

Encouragement and motivation

HE Khaled bin Butti Al Hajri, Director-General of SCCI, congratulated the winners of all categories of the Sharjah Economic Excellence Award. He also thanked the partners, sponsors, evaluation teams, Award Judges and all those who contributed to the success of this Award. He stressed the eagerness of the Chamber to continue spreading a culture of quality and excellence and to contribute to the development of the economic role of private sector institutions and the Gulf business communities.

HE Khaled bin Butti Al Hajri pointed out that the Sharjah Economic Excellence Award was keen on developing its evaluation process and improving its standards, which is based on the commitment of the Award to adhering to the highest standards of quality and excellence and its keenness to improve its performance and its role towards the private sector.

Nada Al Hajri, General Coordinator of the Sharjah Economic Excellence Award, stated that the development of the award is based on a strategy through which the Chamber aims to encourage economic establishments to strive for excellence and optimum performance. She stated that the winners deserved the merit and honor of winning these awards in recognition of their excellence and creativity and valuable efforts during 2017.

Al Hajri added that the 2017 edition witnessed the participation of more than 100 economic establishments. She stated that the Board of Trustees of the Award discussed a number of proposals aimed at developing the award, increasing the number of participants, enhancing its role in cultivating a competitive business environment and supporting and encouraging the business community in Sharjah and various Gulf countries.

The Sharjah Economic Excellence Award was launched in 2002 as one of Sharjah Chamber's initiatives to promote corporate governance, promote quality standards and work ethic, develop the responsibility of private sector enterprises towards society, encourage environmentally friendly practices, and enhance the role of economic institutions in promoting sustainable development.

The Award has witnessed continuous development which includes the implementation of the model set by the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM), and the adoption of comprehensive strategies to improve performance in accordance with the highest international quality standards.

The Sharjah Chamber has attached a cash prize to the Award categories of “Sharjah UAE Startups Award 2017” and “Sharjah Entrepreneurs Award 2017,” in its efforts to both spread the culture of excellence among the private sector and to support young investors and motivate them to excel. Nominations for the award are evaluated on the basis of professionalism, leadership and measurable results. Each winner of the “Sharjah UAE Startups Award 2017” receives a cash prize of Dh50,000 and each winner of the “Sharjah Entrepreneurs Award 2017” receives Dh25,000.

The Board of Directors of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) thanked His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, for his decision to increase the salaries of UAE nationals working in the Government of Sharjah, reaffirming His Highness’s concern for ensuring prosperity for all national families and motivating them to exert more effort and dedication within the comprehensive development process, a decision that will have positive effects on the lives of citizens and all aspects of economic and social sectors in Sharjah.

Chairman Abdullah Al-Oweis, in the third scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors held at the Chamber's headquarters on Monday, said that the Board was keen to implement His Highness the Ruler’s decision to increase the salaries of the national employees at the Chamber and its affiliated institutions, and he stressed the importance of encouraging national staff to be more productive and consolidate the Chamber's position and strengthen the efforts it makes for the local business community.

Al Oweis added that the financial budget was approved to cover the cost required for this increase, and the Chamber’s budget and its institutions has been reviewed to ensure the implementation of the plans, programs and initiatives adopted recently, in line with the Chamber's general strategic plan 2017-2021 that’s geared towards qualitatively developing services provided by the Chamber for all sectors in the emirate.

The meeting, attended by Sheikh Majid bin Faisal bin Khalid Al Qassimi, First Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors, HE Walid Abdulrahman Bukhatr, Second Deputy Chairman and Members of the Board, HE Khalid Bin Butti Al Hajri, Director General as well as Director General Assistants, reviewed a number of topics on the agenda and reports on achievements made by institutions operating under the Chamber’s umbrella and the three sectors of the Chamber, for 2017.

HE Khalid Bin Butti Al Hajri, Director General, said that the third meeting of the Chamber's Board of Directors adopted the financial budget for 2018 and the implementation of the operational plan in order to continue the Chamber’s role in the service of the private sector and civil society.

Al Hajri added by saying that the meeting also approved the initiatives aimed at creating events that serve the business community in general to enhance the quality and content of the various services offered by the Chamber to its affiliate members, including electronic and smart services, in order to enhance the competitive environment of the emirate as an investment destination for the industrial sector, the youth entrepreneurial sector and the logistics sector.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) discussed with the new representative committee of the working group of the hotel sector working under its umbrella the reality of the sector and means of developing it and putting in place an action plan to improve the hotel industry in the emirate in order to enhance the tourism sector and  investment.

This came during the first meeting of the representative committee of the hotel sector, formed earlier this year and held at the Chamber's headquarters, headed by Chairman of the Board Abdullah Sultan Al Oweis, in the presence of Nasser Nassif, Chairman of the Representative Committee of the Hotel Industry Working Group, whereby Mamdouh Al Hakim was selected as the Committee’s Deputy Chairman and Mohammad Al Bastaki as its Rapporteur.

The meeting was attended by Mohammed Ahmed Amin, Director General Assistant for the  Communication and Business Sector, Amjed Awad Al-Karim, Head of the Business Groups section, Fatima Al Shehhi, Business Groups’ executive. Two permanent members of the Committee attended with Ahmed Al Tunaiji representing the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority and Maryam Al-Sabir representing Sharjah Municipality.

Al Oweis started the meeting by welcoming members of the new representative committee of the hotel industry working group, stressing its importance in developing activities and preserving the economic sectors represented by them. He called for ensuring the representation of the largest number of members of these sectors in the working groups, providing advice, and launching initiatives that would serve the sector in particular and developing the emirate's economy in general.

Al Oweis urged the working groups to activate continuous communication and constructive cooperation with the Chamber and representatives of the private business sectors in order to strengthen and support establishments in various economic sectors, study the laws and legislations of interest to the group and provide views and recommendations. He thanked local government directorates for supporting the working groups especially Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority and Sharjah Municipality, wishing success to all for the benefit of Sharjah and the UAE.

During the meeting, Amjad Awad Al-Karim, Head of the Working Groups Section, presented the regulations for the sectoral business groups of the Chamber, which included the group’s objectives, the functions of the representative committees, the competences of the members of the committees and the functions of the committee’s chairman and vice chairman and the validity of meetings.

For his part Nasser Nassif, Chairman of the Representative Committee, praised the diverse expertise of the Committee’s members, stressing the need to make the utmost efforts to improve the hotel sector in the emirate in line with the comprehensive development. Mr. Nassif called on members of the committee to be committed to attend the periodic meetings of the committee which will be held at a periodic rate every two months, noting Sharjah Chamber’s support for the Sharjah Hotels Sector and its continual efforts to develop the sector and work to overcome any challenges facing hotel establishments.

During the meeting, it was decided to conduct an analytical study of all  challenges and proposals related to the hotels sector through an electronic questionnaire for the sector's employees to determine the results of this study and to develop an action plan for achieving them.

It was also decided to establish subcommittees to be responsible for following up the work assigned to the group.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced that 6000 new companies will be joining the Chamber in 2017, reflecting Sharjah’s continuous attractiveness to foreign investment and a modern business environment capable of adding value to the companies that set up business in the Emirate.

The total number of members increased by 6.8% year on year to 69,108 members by the end of 2017, compared to 64,688 in 2016, reinforcing the Chamber's position as the main reference for business in the country.

The exports and re-exports of the Chamber members reached to 20 billion dirhams in a natural reflection of the advanced infrastructure provided by the Emirate to its merchants willing to expand their trade and export to neighboring markets and the high competitiveness of the business environment.
 

Saudi Arabia ranked first on the list of exports and re-exports according to certificates issued by the chamber valued at 7.4 billion dirhams. The Chamber issued 21,761 certificates of origin to the Saudi market, making Saudi Arabia account for 22.4% of the total certificates of origin issued by the Chamber during the year 2017.

The Chamber has issued 97,000 certificates of origin in all its branches and branches across the emirate last year.

HE Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, expressed the confidence Sharjah enjoys by investors from around the world. He stated that attracting 6000 new companies to Sharjah is a strong indication of the wise and vision and guidance of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the UAE Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who has made Sharjah a premier destination for business in egion.

He added that the UAE economy is moving forward with a clear strategy and direction towards broad horizon of economic growth and development. Thanks to Sharjah’s economic diversification strategy, strategic geographical location, competitive advatages for its companies, modernized legislations and regulations, the business environment and  investment opportunities have succeeded in taking an advanced position among the most attractive destinations for investment in the region. He also mentioned that they will be cooperating with their strategic partners in the Emirate to provide all facilities, in order to enhance Sharjah’s status in economy, education and investment.

HE Khalid Bin Butti Al Hajri, Director General of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stated that the Chamber has adopted an approach to attract investments that target investors in their markets rather than waiting for investment options to be identified.

Al Hajri pointed out the chamber, through many different services and initiatives it offers to its members, aims to contribute along with the economic community concerned in the emirate to continue making Sharjah an attractive environment for investment particularly the qualitative ones. In addition to its plans to organize trade missions during the year which led to promising markets, most notably the African markets, as well as holding meetings with government, private sector entities and businessmen in these markets.

He stated that they are continuing this trend as they began the New Year with a trade mission to Costa Rica in Latin America, which aims to attract companies in the agricultural, tourism, renewable energy, higher education and waste management sectors to Sharjah. He added that they expect to attract more international companies to Sharjah and to help them expand into the region's vast market.

Abdulaziz Shattaf, Assistant Director-General for Members Services at SCCI, stated that the previous year represented a huge success for the chamber in terms of membership services. He stated that the Chamber has developed the process of membership and simplified its procedures, where it adopted a smarter method that reduced both the steps needed and the time and effort involved. He added that the chamber also provided additional benefits to members and the business community, and considers its investment in facilitating services to its members a smart investment that helps serve the business community.

Shattaf stated that the Chamber is working on providing additional services to the business sector and its members. He also stated that the services provided to members are modern services that comply with the best international practices and have proven successful in attracting more companies to establish businesses in the emirate. He added that the focus in the upcoming year will be to invest in innovative initiatives that enrich the experience of the members of Sharjah Chamber.

The economic and academic delegation that was organized by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) was received at Costa Rica’s capital of San José by Luis Guillermo Solís Rivera, President of the Republic of Costa Rica, where they discussed the friendly relations between the emirate of Sharjah and Costa Rica and ways to enhance and develop these relations to serve the common interests of both sides.

The Sharjah delegation was headed by HE Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the SCCI, and HE Mohammed Yusouf Al Awadi, UAE Non-Resident Ambassador to Costa Rica. During the meeting, HE Luis Guillermo Solís Rivera highlighted his country’s efforts in developing economic and cultural relations with Sharjah, which comes within the framework of the growing bilateral relations between the Republic of Costa Rica and the UAE. He also praised the progress and prosperity witnessed by the UAE and Sharjah in various fields.

HE Luis Guillermo Solís Rivera also expressed his country's welcome to the Sharjah Chamber delegation, which included representatives of the Sharjah FDI office ‘Invest in Sharjah’, the promotional investment arm at Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), and the American University of Sharjah. He also stressed the importance of this visit and its role in pushing forward economic and cultural cooperation between Sharjah and Costa Rica.

HE Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the SCCI, conveyed the greetings of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to the President of Costa Rica, stressing the keenness of the Emirate of Sharjah in promoting relations, developing economic and trade ties and increasing mutual investments with Costa Rica to serve the common interests of the two friendly countries.

Al Owais added that the visit is a continuation of the mutual visits between Sharjah and Costa Rica, which culminated a year ago with the historic visit by HE Luis Guillermo Solís Rivera, President of the Republic of Costa Rica, to the UAE, where the Sharjah Chamber was one of the stops of the visit. He also noted that Sharjah Chamber's initiative to organize this mission is part of its efforts to give greater impetus to the bilateral relations between Sharjah and Costa Rica.

The members of the delegation that participated in the meeting with HE Luis Guillermo Solís Rivera, President of the Republic of Costa Rica, included HE Waleed AbdelRahman BuKhatir, Second Vice Chairman of the SCCI, HE Khalid bin Butti Al Hajri, Director General of the SCCI, Dr. Björn Kjerfve, Chancellor of American University of Sharjah, Fatima Khalifa Al Maqrab, Head of International Cooperation Department and Board Member of the International Chamber in the UAE, and Marwan Al Ajlah, Director of Investment Promotion at Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq).

During the visit to Costa Rica which took place on the 18th-20th January, the President and members of the delegation held an extensive meeting with senior government officials in Costa Rica, which included Manuel González Sanz, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Costa Rica, Alexander Mora, Minister of Foreign Trade, Edgar Gutiérrez, Minister of Environment and Energy, Giannina Dinarte, Minister of Economy, Industry and Trade, Sylvie Durán, Minister of Culture and Youth, and Carlos Obregón, Executive President of the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE). The meeting included discussions on the means of enhancing economic, trade and tourism relations, as well as means of enhancing mutual investment between companies and institutions from the private sector in the two friendly countries.

HE Manuel González Sanz, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Costa Rica, expressed his country's desire to become the strategic partner of the UAE in the region. He pointed out that Costa Rica has taken practical steps in this regard, such as the opening of an embassy in Abu Dhabi, which the UAE met in return with the decision to also open an embassy in Costa Rica.

His Excellency, the Chairman of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry stated that the aim of this mission was to identify the investment areas and business climate available in Costa Rica and to explore opportunities in specific sectors of common interest such as, tourism, ecotourism, higher education, renewable energy, bilateral trade, waste management and sustainable development, as well as promoting the attractive business environment in Sharjah, considering Sharjah’s eagerness to develop its relations with different countries and to explore areas of trade cooperation, as well as mutual investment that serves the business community in Sharjah and enhance its presence in global markets.

H.E. Khalid bin Butti Al Hajri, Director General of the SCCI, emphasized the importance of the visit, which is the first of the 2018 visits made to the Chamber. It’s part of the Chamber’s efforts to strengthen its international network with countries close to the UAE. The Chamber is always looking forward to explore markets in order to support the business community and contribute to the Emirate’s economy and private sector contributions to its GDP by attracting investors, creating partnerships and exchanging interests.

Fatima Khalifa Al Maqrab, Head of International Cooperation Department and Board Member of the International Chamber in the UAE, presented an electronic presentation highlighting Sharjah’s leading position as a regional and international trading hub and its benefits, business environment and services that provide an ideal platform for businessmen, investors and institutions of all kinds that want to strengthen their presence in the UAE and the region's markets.

Two MOU’s were signed by the mission during the visit, one between American University of Sharjah and National University of Costa Rica, along with University of Costa Rica, in the presence of the Chairman of Sharjah Chamber and UAE Non-Resident Ambassador to Costa Rica.

The first agreement signed by Dr. Björn Kjerfve, Chancellor of the American University of Sharjah and Alberto Salom, Rector of the National University of Costa Rica, aims at providing a framework that will facilitate cooperation and coordination between the two countries in the field of research, encourage exchange of professors, students and academic programs through exchange of faculty members, as well as the organization of ongoing professional development activities and student training.

This was followed by a mission visit to the University of Costa Rica, where Dr. Kjerfve signed the second MOU with Henning Jensen, Rector of the university. The delegation toured the university and the labs of the faculty of Electrical Engineering. The mission also held a meeting with the management of Costa Rica Institute of Technology, where Costa Rican students will have the possibility of being offered scholarships from AUS, in the fields of technology and engineering.

At the end of the visit, the delegation was briefed on the most important tourist and historical landmarks in Costa Rica, such as National Theatre of Costa Rica, which is considered a national treasure. The theatre was built in 1891 is located in downtown San Jose.

The Arbitration Committees for the Sharjah Economic Excellence Award discussed the results of the evaluation process presented by the evaluation committees following its field visits to all participating economic establishments registered to take part in the 2017 Awards. The results of the evaluation were discussed during meetings that were held over 2 days at the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), where the Arbitration Committees reviewed the stages of evaluating the economic establishments and government agencies participating in different categories of the awards, and reviewed the results and their adoption in preparation for submission to the Board of Trustees of the award.

Nada Al Hajri, Sharjah Economic Excellence Award General Coordinator, stated that the arbitration committees held lengthy meetings with the evaluation committees, where the evaluation committees made recommendations that were based on observations and conclusions made from their visits to the participants during the field assessment phase. She added that the field assessment phase lasted more than two weeks and included more than 100 economic establishments participating in the award, and that the field assessment phase was conducted by over 40 evaluators in various fields of assessment, including institutional excellence, green practices, community responsibility, entrepreneurship and emerging projects.

Al Hajri added that the arbitration committees included a number of prominent names and figures in the United Arab Emirates, in order to enhance the diversity of opinions and experiences and constructive criticism. Members of the committees include Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al Nuaimi and Sheikha Hind bint Faisal Al Qassimi among others.

Al Hajri stated that the evaluators are in the process of submitting to the Award’s office, which will shortly after be submitted to the Board of Trustees of the award for review and approval. The final results will be announced on the 25th of January. The winners will be honored during the ceremony organized by the SCCI and the Sharjah Economic Excellence Network on January 31st, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah. Al Hajri expressed the thanks and appreciation of both the Chamber and the Sharjah Economic Excellence Award to all the judges for their efforts, which reflect their keenness to upgrade the business community and improve it.

The Board of Trustees for the Sharjah Economic Excellence Award, chaired by His Excellency Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Sharjah Economic Excellence Award, discussed the progress of the operational stages for the second edition of this award, during their third meeting two weeks ago. They also reviewed the results of the field evaluation phase of the establishments and went over the latest steps of the arbitration phase.

The Sharjah Economic Excellence Award is one of Sharjah Chamber's initiatives to promote corporate governance, promote quality standards and work ethic, develop the responsibility of private sector enterprises, promote environmentally friendly practices and enhance the role of economic institutions in promoting sustainable development by providing facilities and launching new projects and initiatives

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced the launch of “Sharjah Spring Promotions”, which starts in the beginning of 2018 to 15th of February. Its part of the promotional and marketing program aimed to support the retail sector.

This year’s Spring Promotions includes a number of programs and activities covering all regions of Sharjah. Its organized in cooperation with several governmental institutions and bodies, as well as to shopping centers and markets throughout the Emirate which have many prizes for shoppers that will be announced soon.

This year’s 45 day event includes many major campaigns, such as “Sharjah Grand Discounts”,”Kids Carnivals” ,“Spring Bazaar” hosted by Expo Centre Sharjah and “Al Batayeh Festival”

HE Khalid bin Butti Al Hajri, Director General of the SCCI, stressed the eagerness of Sharjah Chamber to support and develop  economic sectors, in particularly the retail sector, as well as consolidating Sharjah’s reputation as one of the most important and leading shopping destination in the region.

Mohammed Ahmad Amin, Assistant Director General for Communication and Business at SCCI, stressed on the importance of Sharjah Spring promotions and the role of these type of events in promoting commercial movements and other related sectors, particularly industry, hotels, tourism and travel.

Hana Al Suwaidi, Head of Economic Promotion Section at the Chamber, said that the organizing committee of Sharjah Spring Promotions continues its readiness at all levels to ensure the success of the events that took place this year, noting that the Festivals and Events Department in the Chamber has developed many new scenarios for this year that covers various aspects of organizational, marketing and events based on questionnaires prepared at the end of Sharjah Spring Promotions last year.

This year’s Spring Promotions include major campaigns, such as Sharjah Grand Discounts, which will offer 80% discounts on many brands and products. Most shopping centers in the Emirate host Entertainment Shows, Kids Festivals at Sahara Centre and Mega Mall.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s board of directors has stressed its keenness to continue to raise the Chamber’s role and enhance its affiliate establishments’ effectiveness, develop  its performance for its members and serve them the best way possible by launching more innovative and vital projects and initiatives. 

This came in the second meeting for the board of directors in its 16^th edition held recently, chaired by HE Abdullah Al Oweis, Chairman, and attended by Sheikh Majid bin Faisal bin Khaled Al Qassimi, first deputy chairman, HE Waleed Bu Khater, second deputy chairman, Ziad El Haji, honorary treasurer, HE Khaled Al Hajri, Director General, and HE Seif Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Center Sharjah.

The Board approved the proposed 2018 operation plan for the Chamber and the adoption of a budget that meets the financial and other requirements for the coming year.

The Board discussed some of the proposals put forward by the different sectors of the Chamber and the entities operating under its umbrella and the working groups expected to contribute to enhancing the Chamber's performance towards its members and serving them to the fullest extent, as part of the efforts made to foster the different sectors in the emirate and enhance their competitive edge andcreating partnerships with affiliate members based on their investment specialization through the adoption of the list of sectoral working groups 2017, in the framework of cooperation and coordination with government departments and government agencies to promote investments in these sectors.

Al Oweis said that the Board's work will focus on translating the vision and directives of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to develop a modern economy based on strong dynamic foundations and ensure the sustainability of the development process which applies the concepts of social responsibility and focuses on the development of human cadres and promotes creativity and innovation.

Al Oweis said that the board of directors will focus on supporting the private sector, strengthening the strategic relations with key partners from both the public and private sectors, creating initiatives based on innovation, knowledge and creativity, launching new initiatives and activating mechanisms, programs, and communication with its affiliate members.

HE Khalid Bin Butti Al-Hajri, Director General, presented the proposed operational plan of the Chamber for 2018 and the means and requirements for its implementation, based on the Chamber’s vision, mission, values and strategic objectives, in addition to launching initiatives and holding events that enhance positivity and content with the  external and internal clients of the Chamber.

Al Hajri reviewed plans to send delegations abroad to promote investment opportunities and facilitate building more economic relations between the local business community and their counterparts abroad.

Mohammed Ahmed Amin, Assistant Director General for the  Communication and Business Sector, Mariam Al Shamsi, Assistant Director General for the Support Services Sector, and Abdul Aziz Shattaf, Assistant Director General of the Members Services Sector, reviewed the operational plans for their respective sectors.

Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, Executive Director of Expo Center Sharjah, and Ahmed Saleh Al Echla, Director of Sharjah International Commercial Arbitration Center, reviewed the operational plans for  Expo Center and the Arbitration Center respectively.

The Board of Directors discussed the draft budget for Sharjah Chamber, Expo Center and Sharjah International Commercial Arbitration Center for the fiscal year 2018, and followed up the implementation of the decisions of the last meeting.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) has announced the formation of a new gold and jewelry business group, comprising 6 merchant-members and 6 jewler-members, proportionately representing various small, medium and large companies.

The decision was made during a meeting held by HE Abdullah Al Oweis, Chairman (SCCI), with a number of leading gold traders in the emirate to discuss the need to create a dedicated working group for gold, jewelry and precious stones.

Attendees at the meeting, recently held at the Sharjah Chamber's headquarters, unanimously agreed on the importance of forming this group to serve as a link between the Sharjah Chamber and the gold sector and contribute to the development of the sector by discussing what traders and designers go through at various levels.

The meeting was attended by HE Mohammad Ahmed Amin, Assistant Director General for the Communication and Business sector, Amjed Idriss, Business Group Section Head, Fatima Al Shehhi, Business Group Executive, and representing the gold sector, Aref Al Jaberi, Al Eman Jewelry shop proprietor, Abdulrahman Al Hamadi of Al’asjad Gold Jewerly shop, Ali Salem from Al Jazeera Gold Jewelry factory as well as Messrs. Ahmed Salem and Nirva Brakash.  

HE Abdullah Al Oweis recommended that the work group be set up as soon as possible in order to meet the needs and requirements of all involved this vital sector, including the manufacturers, traders and representatives of all categories of small, medium and large companies equally. He also proposed to appoint the owner of the largest gold factory in Sharjah as the honorary chairman of the group.

Al Oweis stressed Sharjah Chamber’s keenness to fully support the gold sector in the emirate and enhance its attractiveness and competitiveness to meet traders’ and designers’ expectations and aspirations; as representative of the private sector, Sharjah Chamber endeavors to provide an attractive environment for business and investment in the different economic fields.

Discussion of the project to establish a gold center in Sharjah, proposed at the previous meeting, was concluded as the Chairman proposed to execute the project in the industrial area near university city. In turn representatives of the sector expressed their delight with the proposed site as a very suitable place for companies working in this field, while commercial shop representatives expressed their wish for the center to be close to city center.

H.E. Sheikh Khalid Bin Abdullah Bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Chairman of Sharjah Sea Ports and Customs, inaugurated three specialized economic exhibitions, which were all launched today at Expo Centre Sharjah. The three exhibitions are “Plastivision Arabia,” “Arabiamold,” and “Print Pack Arabia.”

H.E. Sheikh Khalid toured the three exhibitions, which succeeded in attracting more than 120 companies, factories and trademarks from 11 countries. The exhibitions will be held until the 14^th of December with the support of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).

During his tour, H.E. Sheikh Khalid met with a number of exhibitors, who briefed him on the latest products, machines, programs, technological innovations and raw materials used in various fields related to the manufacturing of molds, plastics, printing, packaging and paper.

During his visit, H.E. Sheikh Khalid Bin Abdullah Bin Sultan Al Qassimi was accompanied by H.E. Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI and Chairman of Expo Centre Sharjah, and a number of members from the Chamber's Board of Directors, along with H.E. Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah. The opening ceremony was also attended by officials, official figures, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of different sector groups operating under the umbrella of Sharjah Chamber and interested traders.

H.E. Sheikh Khalid Bin Abdullah Bin Sultan Al Qassimi highlighted the success of the three events in attracting some of the leading international companies in the manufacturing of molds, plastics, printing, packaging and paper worldwide. He added that the volume of participation in these exhibitions highlights Sharjah's growing importance to international companies, brands and trademarks in these industries, who wish to develop their businesses and activities and enhance their presence in the UAE and other various markets in the region.

H.E. Sheikh Khalid Bin Abdullah Bin Sultan Al Qassimi praised the success of Expo Centre Sharjah in providing a new and distinctive edition of these exhibitions with high levels of organization and quality of services to visitors and exhibitors. He added that this reflects the eagerness of the Centre's management to enhance Sharjah's reputation, as a leading regional and global economic hub, help conducting business for various economic sectors, which have been achieved by hosting and organizing events of high importance to local and regional business communities.

H.E. Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI and Chairman of Expo Centre Sharjah, thanked H.E. Sheikh Khalid Bin Abdullah Bin Sultan Al Qassimi for inaugurating the three exhibitions, which received increasing attention from specialized international companies from around the world since their inception. He added that this attention was due to the exhibitions acting as a platform for traders and businesspeople from different countries in the region who want to learn about the latest equipment, technologies, devices and programs that support their areas of work and their industries. He also added that the exhibitions offer opportunities to make deals, build partnerships and establish business dealings.

Al Owais said that “Print Pack Arabia” is the first international exhibition in the region that is specialized in the printing, packaging and paper industries. He added that the exhibition is considered the most important platform for factories, companies, suppliers and traders and the most popular event for the exchange of knowledge that can be relied upon in the development of regional industries, especially after the success of its two previous editions in gaining confidence of exhibitors in the field. He added that this success is also due launching the exhibition in conjunction with the "Plastivision Arabia" and "Arabiamold" exhibitions, which enhances its status as a major commercial multi-industry event.

Al Owais added that the importance of Print Pack Arabia comes at a time when the UAE occupies a strong regional position in the field of end-user sectors such as industrial packaging, food and health care. He added that the rapid preparations and arrangements for the “Expo 2020” Exhibition are among the most important factors contributing to the growth of the industry, the expansion of retail trade, the increase in the demand for food, beverages and other consumer goods, and the increase in population and incomes.

The Chairman of Sharjah Chamber noted that the exhibition benefited from its partnership with India on the printing exhibition. The event, which specialized in packaging and manufacturing machines, benefited from the existing partnership with the Indian Printing, Packaging and Allied Machinery Manufacturers' Association (IPAMA). He pointed out that the Expo Centre Sharjah worked to develop this partnership through organizing the exhibition, which contributed to the attainment of vast achievements not only for the exhibition, but on a regional level as well.

HE Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah, stated that Print Pack Arabia is the leading provider of technological innovations, designs, products and solutions from around the world. It has seen outstanding growth in its third edition this year, hosting more exhibitors  and brands from the UAE, South Korea, India, Germany, Italy and the United States, in conjunction with the fourth editions of Plastivision Arabia and Arabiamold which has attracted about 120 exhibitors from all over the world.

Al Midfa added that the exhibition includes a wide range of machinery, equipment and products that are related to printing and packaging. A special pavilion is featured in the exhibition that includes machines for producing cardboard, which is the main attraction of the exhibition, as well as a display featuring packaging products of cans, crates, cartons, bags and textile printing machines. The exhibition is intended for the regional industry, particularly amid the rapid growth of the industry and the high demand for several sectors such as food, beverages, personal and health care as well as others.

Plastivision Arabia presents raw materials and machines for plastic processing, injection molding, thermoforming, packaging, industrial users, construction infrastructure, cars, communications and others in its fourth edition.

Print Pack Arabia offers digital printing, inks, paints, machinery technology, packaging materials, dish making machines, and many others in its third edition.

Arabia Mold, in its fourth edition, offers tools for mold manufacturing, designing and development of application tools, filtration equipment, welding equipment, cooling systems and many others.

The three events welcome visitors daily from 10 am to 6 pm, and are ideal opportunities to meet regional executives and decision makers in these industries along with live shows concerning the most advanced and modern machines that help visitors identify the best techniques, new machines, testing and choosing what suits the requirements of their businesses and institutions. This allows them to increase production, reduce costs, and keep pace with technological developments, with the participation of the largest companies that specialize in the development of advanced technologies for these important industrial sectors.

Admission is free to all trade and professional visitors.

The UAE-KSA Joint Trade Mission concluded the second stop of its African tour yesterday, where it held the “UAE-KSA-Uganda Trade and Investment Conference” in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi with the participation of more than 60 businessmen and investors from the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The trade mission was organized by Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), in cooperation with the Department of Economic Development (DED) in Abu Dhabi and the Saudi Export Development Authority.

The trade mission, which was organized by the Sharjah Exports Development Center that is considered to be part of the SCCI, also held a press conference and official meetings with officials from several Kenyan governmental agencies concerned with economic and investment affairs. Business meetings between the UAE and Saudi businessmen and their Kenyan counterparts were also held.

The meeting was attended by HE Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the SCCI, HE Adan Mohammed, Cabinet Secretary for Ministry of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives, HE Hassan Issa Al Hosani, Minister Plenipotentiary at the UAE Embassy in Kenya, HE Dr. Mohammed Khayat​, Saudi Ambassador to Kenya, HE Richard Ngatia, Chairman of the Nairobi Chapter of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, HE Moses Ikiara, Managing Director of the Kenya Investment Authority, as well as a large number of government officials and representatives from the Kenyan business community.

In the speech given at the inauguration of the UAE-KSA-Kenya Trade and Investment Conference, HE Abdullah Al-Owais conveyed the greetings of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to the leadership and Government of Kenya.  He also expressed the sincere wishes of His Highness for the continued success, progress and prosperity to the friendly country of Kenya and its people, stressing that the strong bilateral relations between the UAE and Kenya are based on a spirit of understanding and mutual respect.

Al Owais stated that this visit contains an additional dimension when compared to the previous two visits organized by the Sharjah Chamber during the past two years, as this visit comes after the UAE and Kenya signed several memorandums of understanding at the end of last February. He added that in light of these developments, the UAE expresses its hope to further cooperation with Kenya in several fields. This cooperation involves enhancing trade and investment between the two countries and developing leading partnerships in the sectors of food security, energy, retail, infrastructure, transport, logistics, agriculture and other fields, especially since Kenya represents a prominent economic, commercial and service center in East and Central Africa.

Al Owais stated that the Sharjah Chamber considers the trade mission a continuation of its previous efforts in building bridges of communication and strengthening the economic relations between the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kenya. These efforts are part of the framework of joint endeavors between these three countries to raise the rates of trade and to establish new and promising investment partnerships. He also pointed out that the UAE and Saudi products enjoy unique and competitive advantages in terms of their diversity, quality, high specifications and prices.

Al Owais recommended strengthening joint efforts between the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kenya, by providing a database on areas and opportunities for investment and export, facilitating the establishment of exhibitions and forums that support the business communities in these friendly countries, increasing the mutual exchange of visits, taking advantage of the incentives, advantages and guarantees of investment, activating channels of communication between private sector establishments, and enhancing transparency in addressing and handling challenges. He expressed the hope that the visit will contribute in increasing the volume of trade and investment exchange, especially as statistics are still below expectations and do not match the size of opportunities available. The Chamber's data indicate that the volume of exports from Sharjah to Kenya reached more than 440 million Dirhams in 2017, while re-exports from Sharjah to Kenya reached more than 322 million Dirhams during the same period.

Adan Mohammed, Cabinet Secretary for Ministry of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives stated that the government of Kenya appreciates the friendly relations with the UAE, which is reflected in the diplomatic Kenyan presence in Abu Dhabi since 1982 and the presence of UAE in Nairobi since 2012. He also said that the UAE is one of the most prominent economic countries in the Arab world because of its magnificent performance in the world arena, which makes it an important partner for Kenya in terms of trade and investment.

Mohammed stated that Kenya’s exports reached about 309 million dollars in 2016. The most important exports were of tea and petroleum oils. Kenya’s imports from the UAE during the same period reached about 914 million dollars, which included petroleum oils, copper and lemon. He also pointed out that there are many possibilities to expand trade between both countries despite the low levels of trade between them.

He then said that the Kenyan government has set a policy of continuous measurement of the investment and business environment to achieve prosperity and is seeking through the Kenya Investment Authority to facilitate all requirements of foreign businessmen to start business. He also added that Kenya is an entry point to East and Central Africa that provides access to a market of more than 600 million people. Kenya is a regional center that serves Africa and the rest of the world, which makes investment in Kenya a huge place in the African market.

Adan Mohammed, Cabinet Secretary for Ministry of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives, stated that the presence of the UAE-Saudi trade mission in Nairobi to discuss ways of boosting economic and trade relations with Kenya indicates the eagerness of both sides to develop relations and build new partnerships in order to consolidate strategic economic relations that have reached advanced stages.

Mohammed said that the Trade & Investment Conference represents the advanced stage of these relations, pointing out that the trade exchange that Kenya, the UAE and Saudi Arabia has achieved between them is remarkable in the  recent period compared to the past few years. He noted that there are lucrative business and investment opportunities that can be exploited for both sides and the establishment of joint ventures, especially since Kenya is a country with many natural elements, as well as an active air traffic that connects these countries.

Hassan Issa Al Hosani, Minister Plenipotentiary at the UAE Embassy in Kenya, praised the efforts of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry in organizing this Trade and Investment Conference that will enhance the efforts of the UAE in supporting economic relations between both countries.

Al Hosani reviewed the history of the UAE-Kenyan relations during his speech, especially on the economic level, pointing out the most important memorandums of understanding signed between both countries on the economic side, which has played a vital role in developing these relations.

H.E. Dr. Mohammed Khayat, Saudi Ambassador to Kenya, stated that he considers the UAE-Saudi participation in this trade mission to be an embodiment of the brotherly relations between the two countries, and that it aims to support businessmen in both countries.

Mishary Al Khayat, representative of the Saudi Export Development Authority, stressed the depth of relations between Saudi Arabia and Kenya since 1963 and the dedication of their leaderships to consolidate the best relations between them for the benefit of both countries and their people. He also stated that participating in this important meeting opens new horizons for networking with the African business community and provides the delegation a valuable opportunity to get a closer look at the needs of consumers in Kenya, which paves the way for extensive trade relations with trading partners from both countries.

HE Richard Ngatia, Chairman of the Nairobi Chapter of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), reviewed the economic relations between KNCCI and Chambers of Commerce in the UAE, and stated that organizing this Trade and Investment Conference will enhance cooperation between the private sector and the official economic institutions.

Ngatia also reviewed the strengths of the Kenyan economic sectors as well as its most important products that are exported to various countries around the world, and praised the positive and effective role of the private sector in achieving sustainable economic development. He also pointed out that the Kenya Chamber looks forward to enhance and promote joint work and fruitful cooperation through the conference by inviting UAE and Saudi companies to invest seriously in his country, which would contribute to a qualitative shift in the Kenyan economy.

The Department of Economic Development in Abu Dhabi participated in the UAE-KSA-Uganda Trade and Investment Conference in order to support Abu Dhabi's economic agenda and to explore new emerging markets with investment opportunities in promising sectors such as tourism, agriculture and others. During the conference, the department provided support to ten companies, whose fields include oil, gas, building materials and food, in order to further growth in trade between Abu Dhabi and Kenya.

The delegation, which toured a number of markets, factories and governmental authorities in Kenya before leaving Nairobi, represented the Expo Center Sharjah as part of the Center's efforts to promote the economic, cultural and tourism events organized by the Center throughout the year, as well as to enhance the emirate's leading position on the regional and global business and tourism industry.

The organization of the UAE-KSA trade mission to Kenya, which was accompanied by a large media delegation representing various media sectors in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, came within the framework of joint efforts to achieve economic integration between the two brotherly countries. These efforts include the Chamber's eagerness in supporting the business communities in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia by promoting their exports, assisting in their discovery of new markets that contribute to expanding their business in the African continent, and establishing useful investment partnerships.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) has concluded its participation as a strategic sponsor of the Women’s Economic Empowerment Global Summit organized by Women Advancement Establishment, NAMA,  and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, UN Women, under the theme “Women Excelling in Economy”, held recently at Expo Centre Sharjah.

During its participation, the Chamber was keen to help realize the theme of the Summit by setting up a special pavilion for UAE gold and jewelry designers and young entrepreneurs to allow them to display their products of jewelry and diamonds, gold and precious stones, and enable them to communicate with representatives of institutions that support entrepreneurs taking part in the Summit.

Raghdah Taryam, member of Sharjah Chamber’s board of directors of, said:

"Our participation as a strategic sponsor in the first edition of this Summit was motivated by Sharjah Chamber’s keenness to support all economic activities and especially initiatives supporting women and young people, and in compliance with its role of fostering the local communities and to implement the principles of social responsibility that the Chamber is working to devote for the business community and to remain an example to be emulated by the other entities operating in the United Arab Emirates. "

Taryam stressed that supporting this Summit and setting up a special pavilion for UAE gold designers is in line with the directives of HH Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qassimi, President of the Women Advancement Establishment, NAMA and Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, to enable women and grant them components of success to channel their energies into serving the community and contribute to progress and prosperity.

Taryam noted that Sharjah Chamber is sparing no effort in supporting male and female entrepreneurs  to achieve their professional aspirations and enable them to enter the labor market successfully and achieve competitiveness, and she added that studies indicated that there were more than 32 thousand Emirati women who were managing enterprises ranging in value between 45 and 50 billion dollars.

Mona Al Suwaidi, Executive Manager of the Chairman's Office, said: "The UAE designers' platform has provided an ideal opportunity for young Emirati creative talents to enter the jewelry industry, develop their marketing skills and compete to reach the world, as Sharjah Chamber seeks to support Emirati entrepreneurs to develop their ideas and encourage creative enterprises as well as provide support and consultation and motivate them to participate in important events. "

In addition to this Summit designers in attendance had previously participated in the 43^rd  edition of the Watch & Jewelry Show  as well as the Human Resources Conference, both held last October, in which they presented an array of jewelry made of diamonds, gold, pearls, coral, and many other rare minerals and gemstones bearing their own marks, with unique shapes and exquisite colors that match the finest jewelry and the world's largest brands.

The creations of the designers included a wide selection of options that suited people of different ages for different occasions, with the possibility of adding personal touches to each creation according to shoppers’ wishes, whether by  inscription, writing, changing the type of metal or stone, or even changing the color to suit all tastes.

The East Africa trade mission, which is organized by the Sharjah Exports Development Center that is considered to be a part of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), will conclude its three-day visit to the Ugandan capital of Kampala on Tuesday before moving on the next day to the Kenyan capital of Nairobi as part of its African tour, which is being organized for the third year in a row.

The trade mission, which was organized by the SCCI, in cooperation with the Department of Economic Development (DED) in Abu Dhabi and the Saudi Export Development Authority, participated in the "UAE-KSA-Uganda Trade & Investment Conference." The event was attended by more than 60 businessmen and investors from the UAE and Saudi Arabia. A large number of Ugandan government officials, businessmen and investors also participated in the event.

The trade mission, led by His Excellency Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), reinforced its network of relations with the Ugandan business community at the Trade and Investment Conference, where it held a number of official meetings, as well as bilateral and group business meetings between the members of the mission and their Ugandan counterparts. The Conference was organized by the Sharjah Chamber in cooperation with the Federation of Uganda Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Uganda Investment Authority.
The Sharjah Chamber signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at consolidating the levels of trade exchange, investment and joint ventures between the business communities of both countries. The memorandum included the coordination of efforts to promote mutual investments and opportunities in various economic sectors, as well as the exchange of information and expertise. The memorandum also included joint action to overcome the challenges facing investors and businessmen.

Al Owais discussed ways to strengthen the economic relations between Uganda and the UAE in general and with the Emirate of Sharjah in particular, with a number of ministers and heads of economic and investment organizations in Uganda, such as His Excellency Matia Kasaija, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development of Republic of Uganda, and Jolly Kamugira Kaguhangire, the Executive Director of the Uganda Investment Authority. He also stated that strengthening these economic relations leads to raising the rates of trade exchange and establishing new and promising investment partnerships between the two sides.

The Ugandan officials highlighted the strength of the relations between Uganda and the UAE, especially after the recent visit of His Excellency Yoweri Museveni, President of Uganda, to the UAE in November. The president, who led a high-level official government delegation during the visit, met with the leadership of the UAE, which created a new impetus for the relations between the two countries and momentum to further strengthen cooperation at all levels.

HE Abdullah Al Owais, Chairman of Sharjah Chamber said that the trade mission was organized by Sharjah Exports Development Center in cooperation with Department of Economic Development Abu Dhabi and Saudi Exports Development Authority. The goal is to strengthen economic relations between the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Uganda in the framework of common endeavors to raise the rates of trade exchange and establish promising investment partnerships between these countries as well as contributing to the development of fields of mutual cooperation.

He also stated that the organization of this mission comes within the efforts of Sharjah Chamber aimed at developing economic relations between the UAE and Uganda in general and particularly between Sharjah and Uganda. The mission is a continuation of numerous previous visits organized by the Chamber during the last few years with the aim of enhancing relations between both countries at various levels and business fields. He pointed out that the volume of exports and re-exports between Sharjah and Uganda have risen during 2017 compared to 2016, according to statistics and data of the Chamber.

Al Owais pointed to the special advantages enjoyed by the UAE and Saudi products and their positive competitiveness in terms of diversity, quality, high specifications and prices. He also called on the officials participating in the forum to work together to provide a database of opportunities, fields of investment, export as well as facilitating the establishment of exhibitions and forums that support the business communities in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Uganda. The aim is to increase the number of programs to send exchange visits and benefit from the incentives, investment guarantees and protection, in addition to activating channels of communication between private sector enterprises and the adoption of transparency in addressing challenges.

HE Abdullah Mohammed Al Takawi, UAE Ambassador to Uganda, stressed the keenness of the UAE and Saudi Arabia to enhance economic and trade relations with Africa and particularly with Uganda, Given the potential for significant growth in many sectors of common interest especially agriculture and food industries.

Al Takawi stated that relations between the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Uganda have developed significantly in the past few years and are witnessing increase in growth and continuous development especially in signings of a number of bilateral joint agreements, all of which are in the interest of businessmen and investors, namely the bilateral air services agreement, the double taxation agreement and the investment protection and development agreement.
 

Mishary Al Khayat, representative of Saudi Exports Development Authority said that participating in this important event opens up new opportunities for communication with the business community in Africa and give us an invaluable opportunity to get a closer look at the needs of clients and consumers in Uganda, as well as paving the way for extensive trade relations with our trading partners to bring us face to face with our African customers.

Al Khayat added, Saudi Arabia offers growing opportunities for significant trade and economic partnerships with Uganda and raises the terms of trade between both countries and their traders, investors and citizens. The Saudi economy is the largest in the Middle East with a gross domestic product of about 2.4 trillion Saudi Riyals. He pointed to the Kingdom’s eagerness to facilitate the flow of goods and increase the link with Africa through future projects to connect land with it through Egypt, by working to secure a smooth logistical and commercial communication, in which Saudi Arabia is a major center for international trade.

A number of Ugandan officials encouraged the UAE and Saudi business communities to invest in different fields such as in the infrastructure of energy, agricultural and mining sectors since Uganda is considered to be rich in many mineral elements. Several topographic and aerial surveys have revealed 18 areas that include iron, aluminium, precious metals, copper, uranium, phosphates and others to be explored by investors.

They also pointed out that their government is very proud to develop these resources in partnership with the private sector in accordance with the decree that was issued in 2003, which allows joint ventures in mining investment, especially in the presence of more than 200 million tons of iron as proven reserves, 88% is available in western Uganda. In addition to 100 million tons of iron oxide that was discovered in the southeast.

Uganda has enjoyed strategic economic relations with the Middle East during the last three years, in which Ugandan exports have increased from 64 million dollars to 440 million dollars and the UAE leading 92.2%. Uganda’s imports from the UAE were worth 404 million dollars by the end of 2016.

The organization of the UAE-Saudi mission is part of the joint efforts to achieve economic integration between the two countries and to translate the growing bilateral relations between them, in line with the Chamber’s eagerness to support the business communities in the UAE and Saudi Arabia to promote the export of their products and discover new markets to that contributes to expand their business in Africa.

The mission included representatives of Expo Centre Sharjah, as part of the centre’s keenness to promote cultural, economic and tourism activities and events which are organized by the centre throughout the year, as well as enhancing the Emirate’s reputation and position on a regional and international level.

The mission took trips to many markets, factories and government bodies in Uganda and was accompanied by a large media delegation representing media sectors of the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

A delegation from Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) visited the Tesco Industries (LLC) factory, a subsidiary of Zainal Abdul Rehman factory group, as part of the field and periodic visits organized by the Chamber for economic establishments under its umbrella of various trade, industry, professional and service categories.

The Chamber's delegation, which included Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Director of the Economic Relations and Marketing Department, Yaqoub Al Qaseer, Consultant of Industrial Affairs, and Humaid Al Khayyal, Festival and Exhibitions Senior Executive, discussed a number of topics related to the industry sector. The two sides also discussed the reality of the industrial sector with Mohammad Abdulaziz, Tesco’s director, which is one of the oldest factories in the emirate.

Al Jarwan said that organizing this visit comes within the framework of the periodic visits to economic establishments in order to communicate and consult with the largest segment of affiliate members, to get acquainted with the reality of various economic sectors and the nature of the activities and challenges facing businesses and finding suitable solutins; to introduce the services and facilities provided by the Chamber to the business community in the emirate and its continuous efforts to open new markets and enhance the exports of its members through the various promotional activities organized throughout the year.

Sharjah Chamber and Expo Centre Sharjah recently organized an event celebrating “National Day 46” for the establishment of the federation themed “Soul of the Federation” to express love and belonging to the United Arab Emirates and loyalty to its wise leadership.

The program was attended by Sheikh Majid bin Faisal bin Khaled Al Qassimi, first deputy chairman of the board, HE Waleed Bu Khatir, second deputy chairman of the board, included a celebration at the headquarters of Sharjah Chamber with a variety show of cultural segments, folk and national songs presented by Dibba Military band.

The event was attended by HE Khalid Al Hajri, Director General, Mohammed Amin, Assistant Director General for the  Communication and Business sector, Mariam Al Shamsi, Assistant Director General for the Support Services Sector, Abdulaziz Shattaf, Assistant Director General for the Members Services Sector, Sheikha Azza Al Qasimi, Acting Chief Operation Officer at Expo Centre Sharjah, in addition to invited guests from government entities and economic work groups in the emirate.

Sheikh Majid bin Faisal bin Khalid Al Qassimi conveyed his congratulations to their Highnesses Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, their brothers Members of the Supreme Council Rulers of the emirates, and to the government and people of the UAE on the occasion of the 46^th  National Day of the federation, which is the fruit of what was instilled by the founder the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, that bloomed this bright present, under the wise leadership that made its people’s happiness and leadership its utmost priority.  

HE Khalid Al-Hajri expressed his sincere congratulations to the wise leadership of the UAE on the occasion of the 46^th National Day, stressing Sharjah Chamber’s keenness to continue its journey in the spirit of one team, deriving from the “soul of the federation” its solid will to overcome obstacles and redouble achievements year on year, contribute to achieving comprehensive renaissance in all fields and secure happiness and prosperity to its sons and daughters.

The celebration began by playing the national anthem and gathering in the lobby that was decorated with flags and national emblems, followed by taking photographs of members of the board of directors with staff, and was followed by the arts, cultural and folklore segments.

Abdul Aziz Al Houli, director of the Information and technology department, said: "Celebrating the National Day is an annual tradition which the family of Sharjah Chamber is keen to continue and celebrate the national, cultural and humanitarian dimensions of the occasion and the achievements and gains made by the UAE, which has made the UAE’s achievements under the global spot light. "

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) affirmed its keenness to strengthen and develop economic relations between Sharjah and the Republic of Costa Rica and to utilize all available facilities in developing the possible cooperation frameworks between economic events in both countries and increasing investments and encouraging the private sector to participate in the trade fairs and economic events held in both Sharjah and Costa Rica. Sharjah Chamber expressed its appreciation for the efforts made by the Costa Rican side, as represented by the diplomatic mission of the UAE’s organizing of visits by official and commercial delegations to Sharjah and  identify investment opportunities and advantages available to the local private sector.

This came during a meeting between HE Mr. Walid Bu Khater, second deputy  chairman of the board, and HE Manuel Antonio González Sanz, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Costa Rica, accompanied by Francisco Chacon, Costa Rican Ambassador to the UAE, and Omar Ali Saleh, Director of the Department of International Relations.

The meeting reviewed of the growing bilateral relations and the economy, the means to fostering them to meet the aspirations of the two sides and establishing trade and investment partnerships. Sharjah Chamber’s planned visit to the Republic of Costa Rica this January for discovering the reality of the investment environment and the opportunities available to investors and businessmen from both sides was discussed in addition to establishing a constructive and fruitful cooperation to strengthen the UAE’s relations with various countries across the globe and countries of Central America in particular.

Sharjah Chamber looks forward to continuing to build the best relations with the business community in Costa Rica in light of the meeting held last January between His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and President Guillermo Solís Rivera of Costa Rica during his visit to Sharjah, during which the two sides discussed ways of cooperation in the economic field and the consolidation of joint relations. The signing of a memorandum of understanding between Sharjah Chamber and the Export Promotion Agency of Costa Rica was signed with the aim of developing cooperation and strengthening trade relations and mutual investment between Sharjah and Costa Rica.

It is worth mentioning that the signing of the MoU with Sharjah Chamber aimed at developing mutual cooperation and strengthening trade relations and coordination to promote mutual investment between Costa Rica and Sharjah in a framework of equality and mutual benefit.

In recognition of its growing role in the international economic arena and its position as one of the leading chambers of commerce in the region, the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) recently hosted the Executive Committee of the World Chambers Federation (WCF) of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) for the first time in its headquarters.

The Committee discussed a number of issues related to the activity of chambers of commerce around the world. The topics included discussing the adoption of recommendations from the previous meeting of the Committee in London, and identifying the upcoming priorities of the federation. Other topics included the review of the eATA Carnet status report, discussion of the WCF Community platform update, discussion of the 2018 Provisional Outreach programme and the 11th World Chambers Congress. Reviewing bids update for the 12 World Chambers Congress, as well as discussing the strategies of the WCF for the African continent and the United States of America were among the many topics discussed that reflect the important role played by WCF in the development of business communities around the world.

In his inaugural address, His Excellency Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stressed the vital role that the chamber plays in supporting local, regional and international business communities. He also affirmed the commitment of the Sharjah Chamber in promoting global trade and developing the performance of chambers of commerce around the world, while also consolidating the role of the private sector in stimulating sustainable development.

Al Owais added that Sharjah Chamber aims to achieve the economic vision of the Emirate of Sharjah, which is based on economic knowledge. He stated that the vision focuses on promoting innovation and continuous learning, preparing for the fourth industrial revolution in order to achieve high rates of development, and linking the economy in general with cultural and educational sectors, as well as with the exhibition and conference sectors. He stressed that the most prominent example of this wise and ambitious vision is the Sharjah International Book Fair, hosted by the Expo Centre Sharjah annually, which is considered an outstanding cultural exhibition and a major economic event at the same time.

He also added that the Chamber seeks to translate the vision of the Emirate through the development of modern business plans and programs as part of an ambitious strategy to harness benefit from potential opportunities in international markets. He gave the Chamber's efforts to develop trade relations with African countries as an example, which have the advantages and benefits of having broad investment opportunities, and which is in line with international efforts to develop the continent.

Al Owais expressed the Sharjah chamber’s unlimited support for the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s bid to host the 12th World Chambers Congress in 2021. He stressed that Dubai Chamber's success in hosting this important event, which brings together more than 12,000 chambers of commerce from around the world, would be a success for the UAE, in that it will further consolidate the country’s position on the global economic map as a regional and global economic center.

Al Owais also praised the close relationship between the Sharjah Chamber and its counterparts around the world through the strategic partnership with the WCF. He appreciated the role of the Federation in spreading the concepts of sustainable development through the launch of many initiatives that support the development, advancement and progress of business communities, and linking them to many productive and service-oriented outputs.

HE Hamad Buamim, President and CEO of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry stated that the meeting of the executive committee of the world Chambers Federation in the UAE is very important for the country's effective contribution to the promotion and development of the global economy. He pointed out that the UAE and its various chambers of commerce occupy a high and advanced position among their counterparts around the world and have made diverse contributions and initiatives that have made the country’s business community one of the best in the world.

Buamim pointed out the importance of the World Chambers Federation to the Chamber, which is a platform to strengthen cooperation between Chambers of Commerce around the world and activate its role in serving the global business community. He also praised the role that Dubai Chamber played in communicating the voices of chambers of commerce in the region to the decision makers in the World Chambers Federation, emphasizing the importance of these meetings that help develop the general policies of the federation which facilitates trade and economic activities and  advance the performances of the chambers in accordance with the best international standards

HE Peter Mihok, Chairman of World Chambers Federation, thanked Sharjah Chamber for hosting the meeting and praised its role played within the Federation and its constructive contribution in supporting its efforts as well as promoting partnerships between Chambers around the world and private sector. He also praised Sharjah Chamber for participating in the activities of the last five sessions of the World Chambers Congress and its growing contribution  to promoting the role of small and medium enterprises in supporting the global economy.

World Chambers Federation of the International Chamber of Commerce  is the ideal platform for global chambers to communicate, share experiences and showcase their best practices to facilitate economic activities and stimulate global trade. It is also a platform to help chambers support small and medium enterprises. The Federation also contributes to building mutual relations between the different chambers and assist them in opening passages for joint cooperation to serve their members, in addition to helping the Chambers improve their performances by providing them with advice in different fields. The Federation has a membership of 12,000 global chambers.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry has stressed the need to make huge efforts and activate cooperation between the private and the government sectors to invest in agricultural lands in various Arab countries including Mauritania in order to enhance Arab food security.

Sharjah Chamber called for providing technical and financial support and activating specialized authorities’ roles and making laws and legislation needed to enhance investment in the food sectors, and it stressed the provision of incentives and facilities for the private sector, in addition to solving the root causes of impediments in livestock and agricultural development and all that’s related to the food industries, and to invest the best way possible in natural resources and develop technical capabilities.

This came in the opening speech given by HE Abdullah Sultan Al Oweis, Chairman of the Board, at the “Livestock Investment Forum” held on Monday at the Conference Palace in In the capital of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania Nouakchott.

The forum, organized by the Arab Organization for Agricultural Investment and Development in partnership with the Ministry of Veterinary Medicine and the Federation of Chambers of GCC states, was attended by HE Yahya Ould Hademine, Prime Minister of Mauritania, patron of the Forum, HE Mr. Mokhtar Ould Ajay, Minister of Economy and Finance of Mauritania, HE Eissa Al Kalbani, UAE’s envoy to Mauritania, HE Mohammed bin Obaid Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the Arab Organization for Agricultural Investment and Development, HE Abdul Rahim Hassan Naqi, Secretary General of GCC Chambers, Dr. Fatem Bint Esweina, the Minister of Veterinary Medicine of Mauritania, and HE Mohamedou Ould Mohamed Mahmoud, President of Mauritania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (CCIAM), in addition to more than 100 businessmen and investors from Arab countries.

Al Oweis said: "The Islamic Republic of Mauritania is an authentic country with its honorable cultural components, and it has always been a brotherly and good friend of the UAE through a long history, witnessing more growth and development every day as shown by our strategic partnership in Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry with this important investment forum.

Al Oweis conveyed His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah’s greetings to the participants of the forum and His Highness’s wishes for the forum to achieve the desired goals. Al Oweis pointed out Sheikh Sultan’s initiatives for Mauritania are plenty including his recent support to establish a headquarters for the Arabic language in Nouakchott.

Al Oweis added that thanks to these strong ties between the UAE and Mauritania and in line with the wise policy of the UAE to achieve Arab integration at all levels and contribute to the development and enhancement of economic cooperation between our two brotherly countries, Sharjah Chamber is keen to take part in this forum and explore the opportunities to invest in the vital livestock sector, which is closely linked to Arab food security.

Sharjah Chamber is taking part in the 36^th Edition of Sharjah International Book Fair that is organized by the Sharjah Book Authority November 1 – 11 at Expo Centre Sharjah, themed “A World in My Book”, in a dedicated pavilion that exhibits the latest releases and published print and digital content, as well as services and facilities provided by the various publishing houses working in Sharjah emirate.

The pavilion additionally exhibited  the most prominent books from Sharjah Chamber’s library, one of the oldest specialist economic libraries in the UAE and a great facility provided by Sharjah Chamber to its partners and clients from the private and public sectors, including its own publication the Industrial Directory for Sharjah Emirate 2017 – 2018 launched recently, a key reference for the business community, reflecting Sharjah Chamber’s leading role in serving the business community and enhancing its competitive edge. 

HE Khaled bin Butti Al Hajeri, Director General, accompanied by Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Director of the Economic Relations and Marketing Department, toured the fair and met various government officials attending the fair in addition to publishers and exhibitors, and discussed with them ways for cooperation to support joint efforts made to spread a culture of reading, which enhances Sharjah’s position in publishing.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry has explored with a high level delegation from the Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce & Industry (AACCI)  New South Wales, Australia, enhancing bilateral relations and providing a good environment for achieving cooperation between members of both chambers from the private sector in investment.

The two sides agreed to find and support joint events to exchange ideas, expertise and initiatives that aim to take opportunities in investment in Sharjah emirate and the state of New South Wales in Australia, to develop and support economic ties and increase trade exchange.

This came during a reception held by HE Abdullah Sultan Al Oweis, Chairman, for HE Mohammad Haj, Chairman of the Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce & Industry and his delegation, with the attendance of board members HE Rashid Dimas and HE Dr. Sultan Al Mulla, and HE Khaled bin Butti Al Hajeri, Director General.

HE Abdullah Al-Oweis welcomed the visiting delegation, stressing the depth and strength of bilateral relations and the importance of continuing meetings and visits to continue building the best relations between the business communities and expressed the Chamber's readiness to provide all facilities and support to Australian businessmen as part of diversification and economic development efforts, provide the best opportunities for establishing business and industrial centers, establishing joint ventures and enhancing the presence and spread of investors in the region's markets.

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) recently hosted a meeting with the President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, as well as an official government delegation from Uganda, at the chamber's headquarters, to discuss a number of economic issues of common concern.

The meeting, which was held in the presence of His Excellency Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the SCCI, included discussions on means of enhancing bilateral economic relations between the Emirate of Sharjah and Uganda, and the development of cooperation between the two sides, especially in the fields of energy, industry and agriculture and the exchange of visits and investments in various fields.

The meeting was attended by Sheikh Majid bin Faisal Al Qasimi, First Deputy Chairman of SCCI, HE Waleed AbdelRahman BuKhatir, Second Vice Chairman of SCCI, a number of Board members, HE Khalid bin Butti Al Hajri, Director General of SCCI and other senior officials of SCCI. Various directors and heads of the sectoral working groups that adhere to the chamber, as well as senior officials from the business community in Sharjah were also present.

Al Owais stated that the visit came as a result of Sharjah chambers efforts during the previous year to organize visits to a number of African countries, in the framework of the efforts of the Chamber to consolidate its presence in promising African markets, and find ways to increase the volume of trade, economic and investment cooperation between the two sides. Al Owais also stated that the visits that the Chamber has organized to a number of African countries in past years have contributed to strengthening and developing the economic relations of the Emirate with many of the countries of the African continent, which represent promising markets and offer excellent opportunities for Emirati businesspeople.

President Museveni spoke about the advantages of the Ugandan economy and the nature of his country's foreign trade. He reviewed the most important agricultural, industrial and commercial sectors of his country, such as coffee which is considered one of the most important agricultural crops, and in which the country is the fifth largest producer in the world. The president also mentioned the various mineral resources available in Uganda such as iron, copper, and tin. The president pointed out the importance of investment in several economic sectors such as food, mining, and transport, calling on the UAE business community to take advantage of the investment opportunities available in Uganda.

The Ugandan president stressed that there are a variety of investment opportunities in his country, and that he wants to build long-term relations with the business community in the UAE and Sharjah. He also stated that Uganda is an attractive destination for investors due to the investment incentives offered by the country in terms of security, credit facilities, structural and legal regulations, Strong infrastructure, and strategic geographical location in the heart of the African continent, contributing to the transit of goods into many economic blocs.

HE Khalid bin Butti Al Hajri, Director General of SCCI, stated that the important meeting with the Ugandan President and his accompanying delegation would establish a new and productive phase of the economic, trade and investment relations between Sharjah and Uganda. He also noted that the visit of the President of Uganda and his accompanying delegation will have a great impact on enhancing cooperation and activating trade exchanges and increasing them by encouraging investment in both countries.

A number of representatives of the business community in Sharjah met with their Ugandan counterparts during the meeting, where they exchanged views and learned about the opportunities available to each of them, in order to enhance cooperation and study the possibility of establishing joint projects that serve the interests of both sides.

At the end of the meeting, Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, the President of Uganda and the visiting delegation, all took part in visiting the permanent exhibition of local manufactured products in Sharjah Chamber. The exhibition provides visitors from different countries with an opportunity to explore and discover a wide range of products, manufactured locally by more than 180 firms exhibited thought 191 stands covering 30 manufacturing sectors, such as food and beverage, electronics, chemicals, construction materials, plumber materials, plastics, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas equipment. The delegation was briefed on the most important services provided by Sharjah Chamber to facilitate the work of the business sector in the Emirate.

It is worth mentioning that, according to the latest statistics, African exports to the UAE grew by 11% over the past five years. The UAE also ranked 19th among countries with the most exports in Africa, with exports accounting for 1.1% of total African exports

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry celebrated Flag Day and took part in the in the initiative of His Highness Sheikh Mohammd bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, launched in 2013 to celebrate the third of November of every year as Flag Day, which coincides with the anniversary of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, assuming the presidency of the state.

The national anthem was played and the flag of the UAE was raised in front of the main building of the Chamber in moments of pride in which the participants expressed their love for their country and their leaders. A number of senior officials, members of the business community and Sharjah Chamber’s staff took part, with the participation of children from the Chamber’s “My Little Chamber” nursery to express their belonging and loyalty to their homeland.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry discussed enhancing economic and trade relations with the city of Tangier in Morocco, in a meeting held recently with a delegation representing the different economic sectors and services, headed by Mohammad Al Bashir Mahdi, who represented the Chairman of the Tangier Province Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services, on the sidelines of the Industrial Arbitration Forum hosted recently by Sharjah emirate.

The meeting was attended by HE Abdullah Al Oweis, Chairman, HE Mohammad Al Shehi, board member, HE Khaled Al Hajeri, Director General, Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Director of Economic Relations and Marketing, and Humaid Al Muala, human resources expert. 

The two sides discussed the means to develop mutual relations, cooperation and coordination in economic fields with huge potential and high competitiveness on both sides, in order to achieve a competitive edge in the major sectors that underpin economic growth in both cities.

The Moroccan delegation expressed interest  in the divers expertise accumulated by Sharjah emirate in the different sectors including industry, commerce and business services, as Sharjah enjoys a diversified economy and an advanced stature among the promising cities in the region that have shown great potential in the journey to economic growth. 

In his address Al Oweis welcomed the visiting delegation and stressed the brotherly relations that bind the UAE and the Kingdom of Morocco and reaffirmed that economic and commercial integration have become key components of the economies that aspire to take advantage of opportunities across the globe, and he assured the attendees that Sharjah Chamber is open to cooperate fully with the business community in Tangier, in order to achieve the mutual objectives and interests.

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has discussed ways to strengthen and develop the economic, commercial and investment relations, in a meeting with the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) in Dubai and the Middle East. The discussion also included promoting the opportunities and advantages of investment available in the Emirate of Sharjah.

HE. Khaled bin Butti Al Hajri, Director-General of the SCCI expressed his happiness at the visit during his meeting with Masami Ando, Managing Director of JETRO Dubai and MENA, and his accompanying delegation at the Chamber's headquarters in Sharjah. He stressed that Japan is one of the most important trading partners of the UAE. The two sides reviewed what the chamber provides in terms of support to enhance cooperation between companies and economic institutions in Japan and Sharjah, especially in small and medium enterprises.

HE. Khaled bin Butti Al Hajri noted that the cooperation between the two countries is witnessing increasing growth in various fields, including small and medium-sized enterprises. He added that the Chamber has reviewed the unique investment opportunities in the emirate of Sharjah at multiple levels, especially in the industrial, tourism, commercial and logistics sectors. He also pointed out the legislative and legal environment that characterizes the emirate represents a strong attraction for investors.

He also stated that there is plenty of room for small and medium-sized companies in the two countries to cooperate in light of the economic and trade relations, as well as opportunities in sectors that are a priority on the development agenda in the emirate of Sharjah and the country in general. He called on the Organization to invest and encourage Japanese businessmen to exploit the various investment opportunities in the emirate.

Masami Ando, Managing Director of JETRO Dubai and MENA, stressed the strength of the historical and economic relations between the two countries. He pointed out that the progress, prosperity, and diversification in the economic sectors and investment opportunities of the Emirate of Sharjah opens the door for more economic partnership with Japan, in order to benefit from the unique technical and artistic expertise of Japan. He noted that the meeting provided an opportunity to stimulate companies and entrepreneurs from both countries to form partnerships.

At the end of the meeting, Khaled bin Butti Al Hajri accompanied the visiting delegation on a field tour of the permanent exhibition of local products hosted by the Chamber. The exhibition includes more than 100 factories that were selected from more than 2,200 factories that are located in the Emirate of Sharjah. The delegation was also briefed on the most important services provided by Sharjah Chamber to facilitate the endeavors of companies and the business sector in the emirate. Masami Ando praised the exhibition and the quality of the products offered.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry has affirmed its willingness to enhance the economic position of Sharjah through launching smart and innovative services as well as facilitating business practices for private sector.

The service launched by SCCI “ You Call…We Arrive” is one the chamber’s initiatives aimed to help customers save time and efforts by providing them with a fully equipped van, such as commercial and industrial companies to provide a number of services to do the transaction in one spot.

Abdulaziz Mohammed Shattaf, Assistant Director-General for Members Services at the SCCI stated, the chamber has achieved 100% of the intelligent transformation of key services provided to customers. The smart services include issuance membership, certificates of origin and ratification. The chamber has succeeded in supporting its customers through “You Call...We Arrive” to cover all the needs and requirements of its customers. He added, Sharjah Chamber adopts the best strategy to simplify procedures, instill happiness and satisfaction in business practises and continuous development to improve services through modern technology.

Medhat Mounir, head of Membership and Certification Services at Sharjah Chamber stated, the vehicle is is equipped with high quality technology to serve the clients, comfortable seats, internet services, chargers, laptops and any services that the customer needs to carry out transactions. The service is available 24/7 all week. Companies can benefit from the services along with free and industrial zones in Sharjah.

It's important to mention “You Call… We Arrive” was inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah during “UAE Innovation Week” that took place in Expo Centre Sharjah last year and attended by many officials and directors from institution and government departments in Sharjah

HE Khalid Bin Butti Al Hajri, Director General of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stressed the importance of the industrial sector and its leading role in supporting the economy of Sharjah and the UAE, pointing out that the emirate contributes roughly 37% of the total industrial output of the country and is host to more than 20 industrial cities that enhance Sharjah’s facilities for industrial investments.

In his introductory presentation at the inauguration of the Sharjah Chamber of Industry's 2017-2018 Business Directory, Al Hajeri said that under the wise leadership of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, Sharjah has succeeded in solidifying its stature as an industrial destination, keeping pace with the global changes in technology, innovation and distinction in various fields.

HE Abdullah Sultan Al Oweis stressed the importance of developing the business environment and activating commerce, industry and tourism in the central and eastern provinces of Sharjah emirate by holding promotions, festivals, and fairs to introduce these regions as distinguished tourist attractions, in line with the wise directives of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah to pay close attention to the central and eastern provinces socially, economically and culturally and in matters related to heritage and culture and living conditions.

This came in a ceremony held by Sharjah Chamber at Al Dhaid City Cultural Center to honor all work teams and committees that have contributed to organizing the 2^nd edition of the Al Dhaid Dates Festival and the Khorfakkan Economic Forum and the 5^th Fishing Festival.

The ceremony was attended by HE Abdullah Al Oweis, Chairman of Sharjah Chamber, board members, HE Mohammad bin Huweiden, Director of the Municipality Council of Al Dhaid City, HE Salem Al Ketbi, Chairman of Al Dhaid Sports and Cultural Club, Khalifah Al Tunaiji, Deputy Chairman of the Municipalilty Council, Rashid Al Muhayan, Chairman of Students’ Guardians’ Council, Khalil Al Mansouri, Sharjah Chamber’s Branches Director, Muhammad Al Tunaiji, Al Dhaid branch Director and general coordinator of the festival, in addition to government officials, stakeholders, businessmen and staff from Sharjah Chamber. 

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) stressed the importance of all concerted efforts made in the real estate sector in the Emirate of Sharjah, unifying the different visions for the sector and enhancing cooperation to enhance the role of real estate as a key component in the development of Sharjah's diverse economy.

During a recent meeting with the real estate sector’s working group under the umbrella of the Chamber, and with the participation of the Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department, the participants agreed to develop joint coordination and plans that enhance the sector’s competitive edge and its attractiveness to foreign investments, as the real estate sector has contributed over the past years to solidifying the Emirate’s stature as an ideal destination for local and regional investors in real estate.

His Excellency Obaid Awad Al Tunaiji, Board Member, said: "The emirate has a real estate sector with a great potential for growth, especially with the real estate boom and the continued development of infrastructure, which enhances Sharjah's ability to attract more investments”.

His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, on Sunday attended the opening of the 5th GCC HR and Labour Market Executive Conference held under the theme: “Gulf human capital, a promising wealth”.

The two-day conference organised by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the Expo Centre Sharjah was addressed by Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Vice President of the Federation of the UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Abdul Rahman S. Al Otaishan, Chairman of the Federation of Chambers of the Gulf Cooperation Council; and Khalifa bin Said Al Abri, Assistant SecretaryGeneral for Economic and Development Affairs at the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council. 

Also among the speakers were Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, Bahrain’s Minister of Labour and Social Development and current Chairman of the GCC Labour Ministers, and Fayez Ali Al Mutairi, Director General of the Arab Labour Organisation.

The opening session was attended by Saqr Ghobash, UAE Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation; Khaled bin Butti, Director General of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, Executive Director of Expo Centre Sharjah; Mariam Saif Al Shamsi, Assistant Director General for Logistics at Sharjah Chamber; and the directors and employees of a large number of public and private sector organisations in the UAE and other GCC countries.

His Highness Sheikh Sultan and the other attendees watched a documentary about the development of the conference organised by Sharjah Chamber in cooperation with the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah was presented with a shield by the Sharjah Chamber in recognition of his patronage of the conference. His Highness also honoured the speakers, sponsors and supporters of the conference.

Sheikh Sultan then opened the exhibition accompanying the conference and took a tour while being briefed on the services provided by Sharjah Chamber and its affiliates at the event. He also visited the pavilion of the Sharjah Forum for Development, which is hosting 30 young people from the Sharjah Leadership Programme.

Abdullah Al Owais delivered a presentation on the importance of human resources as the basis for the sustainable development of any society. He pointed out that the GCC countries have given priority to Gulf citizens while building the foundation for improving human lives based on a shared common vision and the wise guidance and support of the leaders of these countries.

“Global and regional economic upheavals that have resulted in persistent low oil prices have affected the revenues of hydrocarbon producers and their rate of economic growth. This has had a knock-on effect on investment in projects that provide new employment opportunities,” Al Owais said.

“The GCC countries have the vision and the resources to lead economic growth in the post-oil economy and thereby expand the opportunities for human development, training and employment in the public and private sectors while laying the foundations for the establishment of more small and medium-sized investment projects,” he added.

New Award

Al Owais announced the establishment of an award to recognise and honour Gulf enterprises employing the highest number GCC citizens under the name “Sharjah Gulf Localization Award”. The first edition of the award, under the aegis of the Sharjah Economic Excellence Award in cooperation with the Federation of Chambers of the Gulf Cooperation Council, will be presented in 2018.

The guest of honour, Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, Bahrain’s Minister of Labour and Social Development and current Chairman of the GCC Labour Ministers, affirmed the efforts of GCC governments to achieve their vision and development plans to provide citizens with a higher quality of life and to achieve the goals of social welfare and security.

He emphasised the importance of reforming the education and training sector, which has a direct impact on the development of human resources in line with global best practice.

Humaidan reviewed the Kingdom of Bahrain's experience in supporting its human resources and ensuring continued development. He said the strategic plans of the Bahraini Government depended on an effective partnership with the private sector, which is the main generator of employment opportunities for citizens. 

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry discussed with an economic delegation from the Republic of Singapore the development of economic relations and enhancing trade and investment exchange between Sharjah and Singapore along with other issues of mutual interest that serve the business communities on both sides.

Sharjah Chamber reviewed in the expanded work session held with the Singaporean delegation at its headquarters recently, with the participation of officials from various government entities in Sharjah, means of enhancing cooperation between the business communities in Sharjah and Singapore, in addition to promoting opportunities for investment provided for those wishing to invest in the emirate.

The meeting was attended by board members Ziad Mahmoud Khairallah Alhaji, Mohammad bin Rashid bin Dimas, Ahmed Mohammad Obaid Al Naboudah, in addition to HE Khaled bin Butti Al Hajeri, Director General of Sharjah Chamber, HE Marwan Al Serkal, CEO of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority – Shurooq, and Sheikh Majed bin Abdullah Al Qasimi, Director of Sharjah Department of Government Relations, high ranking government officials from the commercial, industrial and development affairs of Singapore and HE Samuel Tan, Singapore's Ambassador to the UAE.

HE Khaled bin Butti Al Hajeri said the meeting discussed enhancing frameworks for cooperation between Sharjah and Singapore especially in the SMEs sector, making use of Singaporean expertise in this field, and stressed Sharjah Chamber’s keenness to advance economic partnerships and trade exchange for the business communities in Sharjah and Singapore. 

For his part HE Marwan Al Serkal encouraged the Singaporean delegation to make use of the promising opportunities for investment made available in the different sectors and especially tourism and alternative energy, and he pointed out that Sharjah is the only city in the region with a free zone dedicated for technological innovation and research and invited companies in Singapore to invest in this promising enterprise.

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohmmad bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, the 5^th GCC Human Resources and Labour Market Conference starts this Sunday.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, organizer of this event, has announced, through a press conference that was held at its headquarters, the agenda of conference, to be held October 15 – 16, under the theme “GCC Human Capital… A Promising Wealth”, in collaboration with the general secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, and the GCC Federation of Chambers and the Arab Labour Organization.

The creative products of 9 Emirati designers attracted visitors at the Middle East jewelry and Watch show, in its 43^rd edition, that runs through October 7 at Expo Center Sharjah, who took part in a pavilion dedicated to Emirati designers, which Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry had taken the initiative to hold for the first time to support young entrepreneurs.

The pavilion, bearing the banner “Emirati Designers’ Stand”, provided the opportunity to Emirati talent to enter the world of jewelry making, develop their skills in craftsmanship and marketing, through innovating brand names that can compete and reach the global lucrative markets. 

HE Abdullah Sultan Al Oweis, Sharjah Chamber’s Chairman of the Board, said: “An initiative like this attracts more Emirati entrepreneurs, and especially ladies and young ladies, to this sector, a vital sector that supports various other sectors such as gold and precious stones, and assists the national economy in diversification of resources and competitive edge of Sharjah and the UAE.”  

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry discussed ways of developing economic and investment relations between the UAE and Mexico and in particular with the Emirate of Sharjah as well as how to get benefit from the agreements signed between both sides

 The meeting took place in SCCI with the presence of of His Excellency Abdallah Sultan Al Owais ,Chairman of Sharjah Chamber, Her Excellency Francisca Elizabeth Mendez Escobar, Mexico's Ambassador to the UAE, and Enrique Aboudib, Commissioner of the Mexican Trade and Investment Office  

Both sides stressed the importance of organizing common events and activities in the near future in order to highlight the advantages of investment in the UAE and Mexico as well as encouraging businessmen from both sides to seize the opportunity and establish partnership with their counterparts . They also discussed a planned visit of a Mexican trade delegation to the country in November

His Excellency Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, delivered a detailed presentation on the facilities and services provided by SCCI to the private sector and its members. He also explained the appropriate investment environment in Sharjah as it's considered a regional center for business and economy due to its modern infrastructure, advanced logistics services, flexible legislation and its vital location. Al Owais called upon the Mexican delegation to motivate their private sector to participate in the Exhibitions organized by Expo Centre Sharjah specially “STEELFAB”.

Her Excellency Francisca Elizabeth Mendez Escobar, Mexico's Ambassador to the UAE, praised the unique relations between the UAE and Mexico on various levels and the role of SCCI  in promoting economic and investment relations between both countries. She also expressed the desire of the Mexican business community to develop cooperation with its counterparts in the UAE and Sharjah.

 It's important to note that UAE and Mexico have strong relations in the logistics, air transport, agriculture and food industries. There are currently more than 3000 Mexican nationals living in the UAE and  more than 50000 Mexican tourists visit the UAE each year

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry is organizing the 5^th edition of the GCC Human Resources and Labour Market Executive Conference under the title “Gulf Human Capital…A Promising Wealth”, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, October 15-16 at Expo Center Sharjah. 

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry discussed ways to enhance economic cooperation, developing trade relations and investment with an official delegation from Kazakhstan to enhance bilateral relations of both business communities. The meeting was held at the sideline of Sharjah FDI Forum 2017 and attended by HE abdullah bin Sultan Al Owais, chairman of SCCI and HE Kairat Lama Sharif, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the UAE.

Both sides expressed the desire to sign a memorandum of understanding and cooperation between the Sharjah Chamber and its counterpart in Kazakhstan in the near future. The Chamber focused on the importance of the exhibition section and the opportunities offered by Expo Centre Sharjah to foreign companies. the meeting was also attended by HE Abdullah Ibrahim Deaifis, HE Naser Musabbeh Al Tunaiji, Boards of Directors at SCCI, Mohammed Ahmed Amin, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Business Sector at SCCI as well as representatives of the Kazakh embassy and investment promotion agencies in Kazakhstan.

HE Abdullah bin Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of Sharjah Chamber, stressed that the growing relationship between UAE and Kazakhstan have played a great role in enhancing economic relationship in private sectors of both countries and he expressed SCCI’s keenness to continue coordination and expand cooperation in all economic sectors with Kazakstan.

He also urged the Kazakh businessmen to seize the opportunities that serves the interests of business communities in both countries and take the advantages offered by Sharjah Chamber to the foreign investors to have projects in Sharjah as it is a major center in the region to export goods.

HE Kairat Lama Sharif, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the UAE, stressed his country's keenness to enhance fruitful relations at all levels with the UAE,especially after twenty-five years of having diplomatic relations. He  praised the strong economic and commerce relations between Kazakhstan and the Emirate due to Sharjah’s progress in various economic sectors  in the region. He also invited the Emirati Businessmen and investors to seize the good investment opportunities in his country in the field of agriculture and livestock

The Kazakh ambassador concluded the meeting with  an official invitation to the Chairman of SCCI to visit his country. He also mentioned that the governor of south Kazakhstan will be visiting Sharjah in November in order to sign several memorandums of understanding with some economic government offices in the Emirate and the Chairman of SCCI gladly welcomed the invitation.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry has concluded its tour of the GCC countries with a forum in Saudi Arabia to promote the Best 10 Gulf Establishments Award, one of the categories of the Sharjah Economic Excellence Award, that included 4 of the GCC countries and was well received by officials and representatives of the private sector, as it seeks to inaugurate a comprehensive framework to increase competition and corporate performance, to achieve integrated quality management, encourage innovation, and achieve leadership and superior competitiveness.

Sharjah Chamber had recently invited, through the forum it organized that was hosted by the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry,  large corporations in the Saudi private sector to take part in this edition of the Award for 2017 as part of the Best 10 Establishments Award that it launched early last year.

A number of officials took part in the forum including executive officers of companies that represent different economic sectors in Saudi Arabia in the category of large corporations, and it was attended by Mohammad Al Ghazawi, Director of International Cooperation Department at the Council of Saudi Chambers as well as a number of council members, and Sharjah Chamber was represented by Mohammad Ahmed Amin, Assistant Director General of the Business and Communication Sector, Nada Al Hajeri, General Coordinator of Sharjah Award, a large number of Saudi companies and representatives of Saudi and Gulf media.

The Board of Trustees of the Sharjah Economic Excellence Network Award, one of the initiatives of Sharjah Chamber Commerce and Industry, is preparing itself for its second session to award the winners of 2017 after reviewing the work plan of the awards during the second and third quarters of this year.

The meeting that took place recently was attended by, H.E Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, H.E Khalid bin Butti Al Hajri , Director General of the Chamber, and Nada Al Hajeri, General Coordinator of the Award. The meeting focused on results of the promotion tour that was organized by the chamber recently in the GCC countries as part of the promotion for the “Top 10 GCC Business” that was launched by Sharjah Chamber  during the 2016 award ceremony.

The board praised the results of the tour in Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman, stating the success of the seminars that was organized by the chamber with the cooperation of its counterparts in the mentioned countries

The GCC tour is scheduled to end on Sunday with a visit to the Council of Saudi Chambers in Riyadh to invite the biggest private sector companies and businessmen to participate in the award that encourages creativity in all economic sectors. The chamber is eager to develop private sector companies in the Gulf to be an effective tool for their integration and unity.

Nada Al Hajeri, General Coordinator of the Award, presented a detailed report on the awards’ work plan during the second and third quarter of this year, in which it included the tour in the gulf countries as well as training courses organized by the Chamber to qualify residents inside the country upon the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM).

It's important to mention that ShjSEEN aims to spread corporate governance, persuade quality standards and business ethics, as well as encourage environmental friendly practices in the community in order to progress the sustainable development.

The award includes: Sharjah Top 10 Businesses Award,  Sharjah Green Award, Sharjah Entrepreneur Award, Sharjah CSR Award, Sharjah UAE Start-up Award, and Top 10 GCC Business award. The award uses the best global methods and the latest evaluation models

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry celebrated today Emirati Women’s Day under the theme “Women Are Partners in Giving”, to show appreciation for the role being played by Emirati women and the achievements they’ve made in the journey to build society, and to express gratitude for the efforts made by the Chamber’s female staff and their effective contributions to achieving the Chamber’s vision, mission,  strategic goals and corporate values. 

Sharjah Chamber congratulated Emirati women on their national day and stressed that they’ve proven competence and ability to take up the highest positions in leadership in business, finance and investment, and called on women and young ladies to invest in rewarding opportunities in the Emirate

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently concluded its summer training program, "Starting With You", which is organized every year with the participation of a number of school and university students from different majors, to provide them with professional and functional knowledge that will help them to get involved in future careers.

The program, which is one of the initiatives of the Sharjah Training and Development Center, was attended by 20 male and female school and university students. SCCI hosted the students for two full months to learn about the roles played by its staff in all its departments, as well as their participation in the work under administrative and organizational supervision prepared for the program.

Mohammed Ahmed Amin, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Business sector at the SCCI, stated that organizing the "Starting With You" program is one of SCCI’s initiatives aimed to create an environment suitable for school and university students to learn about the field of work, gain practical knowledge and experience through enhancing their skills and abilities to accomplish the tasks to the fullest.

Amin explained that the "Starting With You" program  is keen to organize annually to enhance its role and practices as a socially responsible institution. He also pointed out the importance of the program in contributing to the preparation of generations responsible, aware and have a prior conception of the nature of the institutional work with its requirements, commitments and has a preliminary knowledge of the labor market and the business community, by engaging them in the different departments of the Chamber to introduce them to the role of SCCI and its responsibilities assigned to serve the economy of the Emirate and its business community.

At the end of the program, SCCI honored the students that participated in the program this summer. The students also expressed their  appreciation to SCCI for launching “Starting With You” initiative which allowed them to practice different types of careers and learn about practical life in a realistic way

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI), in cooperation with the Federal Tax Authority, organized an awareness workshop on new developments in the tax system in the UAE, mechanisms for applying value-added tax (VAT), procedures for registering at the Federal Tax Authority, and the entailed commitments, auditing and paperwork for importers and exporters.

The workshop, which was hosted at SCCI premises today, 23, august, 2017  under the slogan "VAT for Importers and Exporters and Registration Mechanism," saw wide participation by representatives of the business community and retail, import, and export companies operating in Sharjah.

The session was attended by H.E  Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, H.E Walid BuKhatir, SCCI Second Vice Chairman, and

 Mohammed Ahmed Amin, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Business Sector at SCCI, Saida Kaddoumi-Osman representing the Federal Tax Authority, in addition to representatives of a number of government agencies and heads of work groups operating under SCCI's umbrella.

“Sharjah Chamber Commerce and Industry”, stressed the importance of close cooperation between government institutions and agencies and the active partnership between the public and private sectors in organizing economic life and prosperity of its commercial, industrial and professional sectors at all levels and keeping pace with the civilization development witnessed by the UAE and Sharjah.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry added, that organizing this seminar is motivated by SCCI's commitment to informing the business community in Sharjah about the tax laws issued by the government last March 2017, and to help raise awareness among members about new developments in the state's tax system, mechanisms for applying VAT, procedures related to it, and the entailed commitments.

SCCI also mentioned, that the workshop provided valuable information and answered the questions of several company owners about new legislations regulating tax procedures for the business community, which should enable companies in various economic sectors to put their affairs in order and take the necessary steps to improve their performance during the upcoming stage before the deadline for applying VAT in early 2018.

For her part, Saida Kaddoumi-Osman , representative of the Federal Tax Authority, said that the workshop achieved its goals and managed to inform a large number of private sector establishments in Sharjah about the goals of applying indirect taxes in the UAE and their role in supporting economic diversity by diversifying the sources of government revenues in order to fund infrastructure projects and improve the quality of services provided by the government.

The workshop focused on informing retail, import, and export companies about the concept of VAT in the UAE and the necessary procedures for preparing to apply the tax in January 1st 2018, in addition to the requirements of compliance which include as a first step the registration mechanism at the Federal Tax Authority for tax purposes.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry discussed enhancing opportunities for cooperation with the General Union of Chambers of Commerce - Industry and Agriculture for Arab Countries (GUCCIAAC), and to increase joint efforts to support the process of comprehensive and sustainable economic development in the Arab countries and develop cooperation between chambers and members.

This came at the reception of Shaheen Ali Shaheen, Assistant Secretary-General of the Union of Arab Chambers, at the Chamber’s headquarters,  by HE Abdulla Sultan Al Oweis, Chairman of the Board of Sharjah Chamber, , with Mohammad Ahmed Amin, Assistant Director General for the Communication and Business Sector in attendance. 

The two sides discussed increasing investment and trade between the business communities, encouraging businessmen and Arab companies to take advantage of rewarding opportunities for investment in Sharjah and its attractive economic environment for investors.

HE Chairman of Sharjah Chamber received during the meeting an official invitation from the Union of Arab Chambers to attend the Africa - Arab Economic Forum to be held under the theme “Road Map and Available Financing for Successful Investment” in the Jordanian capital Amman 27-28 September.

Al Oweis confirmed Sharjah Chamber’s keenness to support all efforts that aim to enhance cooperation among the Arab business community and develop sustainable investment and commercial relations for the private sector in the Arab countries in the different economic and developmental fields.

Al Oweis praised efforts made by the Union of Arab Chambers to develop economic, commercial, and cultural relations and the Union’s initiatives to cement cooperation and the exchange of expertise among the Chambers and members, eventually strengthening Arab economic ties.

Sharjah Economic Excellence Network (ShjSEEN) Award, one of the initiatives of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry(SCCI), organized a training course for training internal assessors from UAE citizens in the government departments of Sharjah according to the European Foundation for Quality Management(EFQM).
 
The course was held at the SCCI premises and concluded its three-day activities recently. The course's training program focused on enhancing participants' ability to assess the aspects of excellence and prospects of improvement in establishments according to quality management criteria, as well as drafting internal reports on the quality of the establishment and drafting nomination documents.
 
The course included lectures by Dr. Issa Al Qaidi, and was attended by Mohammed Ahmed Amin, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Business at the SCCI, Ibrahim Rashed Al Jarwan, Director of the Department of Economic Relations at the SCCI, and Nada Al Hajri, General Coordinator of ShjSEEN.
 
Mohammed Ahmed Amin said that this course is part of the SCCI's efforts to enhance knowledge and deep understanding of excellence concepts and criteria and award management according to the radar methodology, as well as how to conduct internal assessment and providing valuable analysis for establishments, which would enable participants to pinpoint aspects of excellence in their establishments' work, opportunities for improvement, and how to draft nomination documents, thereby raising awareness among work teams and particularly supervisors of awards provided by the SCCI to the local business community, mainly the ShjSEEN Award.
 
Amin affirmed that the SCCI is committed to serving the business community, developing its performance, and enhancing the competitive environment in Sharjah by promoting the excellence program and spreading the culture of quality in public and private sector establishments in the Emirate.
 
This is done by applying the highest criteria for quality management and excellence, encouraging the application of the best scientific and practical practices in developing human resources, and encouraging innovation and creativity in work environment, which is done by preparing and executing programs and courses that suit the nature, needs, and workers' resources in establishments, which would qualify them to participate in the ShjSEEN Award which the SCCI launched to honor achievements and efficiency of businesses in Sharjah.
 
The training program was prepared and directed for UAE citizens working in the public and private sector in Sharjah and who are interested in learning about the principles of internal assessments in establishments. It included a number of main themes which include introducing the EFQM,its principles and criteria, the radar principle, in addition to internal assessment tools and how to choose and apply the right ones, as well as how to conduct interviews, pinpoint aspects of excellence and opportunities of improvement in establishments, drafting reports and nomination documents.

it's important to mention, Sharjah Economic Excellence Network award  aims to spread corporate governance, encourage the adoption of quality standards and business ethics during work, developing the responsibility of private sector enterprises towards the society and enhancing the role of economic institutions in promoting sustainable development through providing facilities and launching new projects and initiatives.

Sharjah Chamber has organized a forum to introduce the Sharjah Award for Economic Excellence to large companies in the private sector of the Sultanate of Oman, in the third stop of its tour to promote the category for the Best 10 Gulf Establishments Award category that comprises 4 countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Sharjah Chamber encouraged the largest of private companies in the Sultanate of Oman to take part in the 2017 edition of this Award as part of the “Best 10 Gulf Establishments” category, created by the Award early this  year; this came in the forum hosted by the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI)at its headquarters recently. 

The forum, in which the Chamber’s delegation gave a detailed review of the Award for Economic Excellence, saw the participation of a number of executive officers of large companies from the different economic sectors in Oman and was attended by Badr Bin Saif Al Oufi, OCCI Assistant Director General for Administrative and Financial Affairs, Mr Mohammed Khamis Al Husseini, Director of Economic Research, Talal bin Hussain Al Qassimi, Assistant Director of the Public Relations Department at OCCI, in addition to Abdulaziz Shattaf, Assistant Director General for the Members’ Services Sector, Nada Al Hajeri, General Coordinator of the Award, a large number of companies working in the Sultanate of Oman and media personnel.

His Excellency Abdullah Al Oweis, Chairman of the Board of Sharjah Chamber, stressed that continual collaboration and coordination between SCCI and Oman Chamber is but a continuation of  decades of historic relations between the UAE and the Sultanate of Oman, fostered by the common heritage and vision that bind the two countries, especially under generous support for these ties afforded by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifah bin Zayed Al Nahayan and His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

Starting this summer Sharjah has added a new and promising event to its agenda of commercial and tourist activities and events, as part of its efforts to promote Sharjah’s unique advantages that place it among the most prominent tourist and commercial destinations locally, regionally and globally, and enhance its standing on the global map as a fertile environment for foreign investment. 

Sharjah Summer Campaign is the theme of the event launched June 27 and due to continue through September 8, organized by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority for the first time to unite efforts made by establishments in the government and private sectors that aim to market Sharjah as an investment, entertainment, tourist and cultural destination,  to attract more tourists in the summer seasons.     

This initiative by the authority has been the umbrella under which many distinguished events and promotional offers have been launched by more than 28 private and public entities that have been keen to take part, under one vision to confirm Sharjah’s stature as a hub on the commercial, tourist and cultural global map. Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) is considered to be one of the remarkable establishments that have adopted this initiative and included its own Sharjah Summer Offers as a key event of Sharjah Summer Campaign.

The Chamber’s step gave new momentum to the new campaign, thanks to the positive outcomes of Sharjah Summer Offers over the past few years and the Chamber’s expertise in organizing pioneering commercial events and festivals in the emirate over the past four decades, in cooperation with its strategic partners in the private and government sectors, as residents have become used to summer seasons full of events, entertainment, attractive discounts, competitive prices, pleasant surprises and big prizes.

Abdullah Al Oweis, Chairman of the Board of Sharjah Chamber, reaffirmed the Chamber’s keenness to do all it can to play an effective and sustainable role in Sharjah’s journey towards development, modernization and building a prosperous future, in line with the wise vision of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and the close follow-up of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, all within UAE Vision 2021.

Al Oweis said that Sharjah Chamber spares no effort in organizing the economic life of the emirate, supporting the business community and achieving prosperity for the different sectors on all levels of cooperation with the competent local departments, and it works hard to be the driving force for commercial and industrial development in Sharjah, by providing value added services, launching events and activities that enhance commerce and the economy, and providing businessmen, entrepreneurs and investors with the chance to grow, prosper and compete in the local, regional and global markets. 

Al Oweis added: “Hence Sharjah Chamber has been keen to launch various events and festivals throughout its journey of almost 50 years, including Sharjah Summer Offers, considered to be one of the most important events over the past few years, with shops and shopping centers competing to register within it throughout the emirate, to launch their best offers throughout the year and take advantage of high spending in this season that bounds with attractive events, discounts, competitive prices and big prizes, in addition to numerous entrainment activities that appeal to visitors and tourists of all age groups.”  

Sharjah Summer Campaign, launched by the Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority, has been a qualitative event across the emirate thanks to its unique tourist advantages that include various events and promotional campaigns, in addition to superb activities that contribute to invigorating tourism in the emirate, and open the door for its visitors to experience the best of times in its midst.

The campaign is full of activities that have been tailor-made for the different age-groups and include educational programs, workshops, fun tours and others to spread awareness, that have been organized by different entities in different areas such as Heart of Sharjah, Al Majaz, Al Noor Island, Al Qasba and other places. 

Sharjah Summer provides unique shopping opportunities, big promotional offers, outstanding discounts on hotel bookings, travel tickets, and gifts and prizes that contribute as a whole to attracting family tourism.

In addition to the concerned government bodies, shopping centers are taking part in the campaign, alongside hotels, travel agencies, airline companies and others from the private sector. The Authority has launched many outstanding activities including water events and entertainment for children and families at Al Majaz Water Front and Al Qasba, in addition to handicrafts for children, a cinema for cartoon films and various children’s programs.
 

For his part Khaled Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority, said that “launching Sharjah Summer Campaign and uniting efforts made by the private and government sectors under the authority’s umbrella is in line with the wise leadership of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and the close follow-up of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, with the accumulated expertise of the emirate’s establishments and their achievements over the years”.  
 

Al Midfa stressed that “Sharjah Summer Campaign” crowns an era of hard work that gave many outstanding summer events and activities launched by the  Authority and the different entities concerned with commerce and tourism in the emirate, and he pointed out that the campaign’s importance lies in investing in long years of expertise, achievements, and successful events, which lays the foundations for a new and promising future, based on uniting visions, goals, efforts and work as one team, in cooperation and harmony, to achieve effective promotion and marketing that contribute to advancing the commercial and tourism sectors in the emirate, eventually crystalizing “Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021” that aims to increase the flow of tourists to the emirate in excess of 10 million visitors, to coincide with the UAE’s golden jubilee celebrations. 

With the approach of Eid Al Dha, Sharjah Summer Offers 2017 provide shoppers with opportunities to buy commodities at competitive prices, and allows people to travel to their countries for the summer holidays and buy gifts at the best prices and big discounts made by centers and prominent brand names for their visitors in the summer season, under the supervision of Sharjah Chamber and the competent authorities’ monitoring. 

Summer offers contribute considerably to increasing the growth of the gross domestic product (GDP), and provide an attractive environment for investors including Emirati, Arab and foreign resident. Summer offers are not limited to shopping and entertainment but cross over to knowledge and cultural wealth, as Sharjah emirate is considered to be one of the most important and attractive destinations for cultural tourism in the Arab world, thanks to its diverse educational and cultural edifices, and for the superior cultural festivals and exhibitions that it is home for.
 

Khaled Al Midfa said that Sharjah Summer Campaign will see, starting next year, noticeable development on all levels, learning from its first experience this summer and by learning what  visitors and tourists thought of the campaign, by viewing the best international practices and launching brain storming sessions with all partners, to make Sharjah Summer one of the best summer holidays that allows visitors to enjoy a complete tourist experience in inspirational commercial and cultural events, exhibitions and activities. 
 

Sharjah Summer Offers was launched in its new season on Thursday, August 3, and will continue for 38 days through September 9, in charming tourist surroundings and diverse events and entertainment activities that fulfil visitors’ expectations of all age-groups, which makes shopping more fun with attractive offers and discounts on the biggest brand names and commodities offered by shops that come with numerous valuable prizes and gifts.

Starting this summer Sharjah has added a new and promising event to its agenda of commercial and tourist activities and events, as part of its efforts to promote Sharjah’s unique advantages that place it among the most prominent tourist and commercial destinations locally, regionally and globally, and enhance its standing on the global map as a fertile environment for foreign investment. 

Sharjah Summer Campaign is the theme of the event launched June 27 and due to continue through September 8, organized by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority for the first time to unite efforts made by establishments in the government and private sectors that aim to market Sharjah as an investment, entertainment, tourist and cultural destination,  to attract more tourists in the summer seasons.     

This initiative by the authority has been the umbrella under which many distinguished events and promotional offers have been launched by more than 28 private and public entities that have been keen to take part, under one vision to confirm Sharjah’s stature as a hub on the commercial, tourist and cultural global map. Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) is considered to be one of the remarkable establishments that have adopted this initiative and included its own Sharjah Summer Offers as a key event of Sharjah Summer Campaign.

The Chamber’s step gave new momentum to the new campaign, thanks to the positive outcomes of Sharjah Summer Offers over the past few years and the Chamber’s expertise in organizing pioneering commercial events and festivals in the emirate over the past four decades, in cooperation with its strategic partners in the private and government sectors, as residents have become used to summer seasons full of events, entertainment, attractive discounts, competitive prices, pleasant surprises and big prizes.

Abdullah Al Oweis, Chairman of the Board of Sharjah Chamber, reaffirmed the Chamber’s keenness to do all it can to play an effective and sustainable role in Sharjah’s journey towards development, modernization and building a prosperous future, in line with the wise vision of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and the close follow-up of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, all within UAE Vision 2021.

Al Oweis said that Sharjah Chamber spares no effort in organizing the economic life of the emirate, supporting the business community and achieving prosperity for the different sectors on all levels of cooperation with the competent local departments, and it works hard to be the driving force for commercial and industrial development in Sharjah, by providing value added services, launching events and activities that enhance commerce and the economy, and providing businessmen, entrepreneurs and investors with the chance to grow, prosper and compete in the local, regional and global markets. 

Al Oweis added: “Hence Sharjah Chamber has been keen to launch various events and festivals throughout its journey of almost 50 years, including Sharjah Summer Offers, considered to be one of the most important events over the past few years, with shops and shopping centers competing to register within it throughout the emirate, to launch their best offers throughout the year and take advantage of high spending in this season that bounds with attractive events, discounts, competitive prices and big prizes, in addition to numerous entrainment activities that appeal to visitors and tourists of all age groups.”  

Sharjah Summer Campaign, launched by the Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority, has been a qualitative event across the emirate thanks to its unique tourist advantages that include various events and promotional campaigns, in addition to superb activities that contribute to invigorating tourism in the emirate, and open the door for its visitors to experience the best of times in its midst.

The campaign is full of activities that have been tailor-made for the different age-groups and include educational programs, workshops, fun tours and others to spread awareness, that have been organized by different entities in different areas such as Heart of Sharjah, Al Majaz, Al Noor Island, Al Qasba and other places. 

Sharjah Summer provides unique shopping opportunities, big promotional offers, outstanding discounts on hotel bookings, travel tickets, and gifts and prizes that contribute as a whole to attracting family tourism.

In addition to the concerned government bodies, shopping centers are taking part in the campaign, alongside hotels, travel agencies, airline companies and others from the private sector. The Authority has launched many outstanding activities including water events and entertainment for children and families at Al Majaz Water Front and Al Qasba, in addition to handicrafts for children, a cinema for cartoon films and various children’s programs.
 

For his part Khaled Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority, said that “launching Sharjah Summer Campaign and uniting efforts made by the private and government sectors under the authority’s umbrella is in line with the wise leadership of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and the close follow-up of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, with the accumulated expertise of the emirate’s establishments and their achievements over the years”.  
 

Al Midfa stressed that “Sharjah Summer Campaign” crowns an era of hard work that gave many outstanding summer events and activities launched by the  Authority and the different entities concerned with commerce and tourism in the emirate, and he pointed out that the campaign’s importance lies in investing in long years of expertise, achievements, and successful events, which lays the foundations for a new and promising future, based on uniting visions, goals, efforts and work as one team, in cooperation and harmony, to achieve effective promotion and marketing that contribute to advancing the commercial and tourism sectors in the emirate, eventually crystalizing “Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021” that aims to increase the flow of tourists to the emirate in excess of 10 million visitors, to coincide with the UAE’s golden jubilee celebrations. 

With the approach of Eid Al Dha, Sharjah Summer Offers 2017 provide shoppers with opportunities to buy commodities at competitive prices, and allows people to travel to their countries for the summer holidays and buy gifts at the best prices and big discounts made by centers and prominent brand names for their visitors in the summer season, under the supervision of Sharjah Chamber and the competent authorities’ monitoring. 

Summer offers contribute considerably to increasing the growth of the gross domestic product (GDP), and provide an attractive environment for investors including Emirati, Arab and foreign resident. Summer offers are not limited to shopping and entertainment but cross over to knowledge and cultural wealth, as Sharjah emirate is considered to be one of the most important and attractive destinations for cultural tourism in the Arab world, thanks to its diverse educational and cultural edifices, and for the superior cultural festivals and exhibitions that it is home for.
 

Khaled Al Midfa said that Sharjah Summer Campaign will see, starting next year, noticeable development on all levels, learning from its first experience this summer and by learning what  visitors and tourists thought of the campaign, by viewing the best international practices and launching brain storming sessions with all partners, to make Sharjah Summer one of the best summer holidays that allows visitors to enjoy a complete tourist experience in inspirational commercial and cultural events, exhibitions and activities. 
 

Sharjah Summer Offers was launched in its new season on Thursday, August 3, and will continue for 38 days through September 9, in charming tourist surroundings and diverse events and entertainment activities that fulfil visitors’ expectations of all age-groups, which makes shopping more fun with attractive offers and discounts on the biggest brand names and commodities offered by shops that come with numerous valuable prizes and gifts.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SSCI)stressed its keenness to actively and sustainably contribute to developing entrepreneurship in various member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and to work to improve the abilities of entrepreneurs of both sexes wishing to establish or expand their enterprises, in order to achieve more growth, development, prosperity and goodness for member states. 

Sharjah Chamber also affirmed its keenness to support all efforts made by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, to enhance joint Islamic work and lay the foundations for brotherly relations that bind member states in economic fields and others, and raise the level of constructive cooperation between them and the different countries and organizations around the world that are concerned with economic matters.
 

This came at the opening session of the training course organized by Sharjah Chamber, in cooperation with the Islamic Chamber, and the Perez Juriro Fund of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), under the theme “Developing Entrepreneurship Through Information Technology in Member States of the Islamic Cooperation Organization”, currently taking place through August 9, with the participation of 30 trainees who represent member states of the ICO.

The session, launched recently at the headquarters of Sharjah Chamber, was attended by Mohammad Amin, Assistant Director General for the Business and Communication Sector, Atiah Nawazish, Assistant General Secretary of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, alongside representatives of OIC member states and the Islamic Chamber, trainees taking part in the course, directors at SCCI and media staff. 

Mohammad Amin said that it’s imperative to explore the means to build a culture of entrepreneurship among Islamic countries and to identify the role to be played by technology in this process.

Amin added that organizing this course is but one ring of a chain of efforts made by Sharjah Chamber, in cooperation with its partners at the Islamic Chamber to spread awareness among individuals who establish companies and launch enterprises in various member states of the OIC, to create opportunities for them to learn about the mechanisms for making plans for businesses and the ability to be creative and innovative and to execute these ideas in real life.
 

Amin asserted that this course and others organized and hosted by Sharjah Chamber annually, in coordination with member states of the OIC, aims to push the wheel of economic advancement and to combat poverty, to create jobs for youth of both sexes, and to get entrepreneurs acquainted with investment opportunities that are abundant in Islamic economies and encourage them to take advantage of these initiatives presented by the Islamic Chamber and the chambers of member states.

The Training and Development Center at Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry SCCI organized a session on forgiveness as part of the “Social Saloon” initiative, to enhance the sense of forgiveness among the Chamber’s staff and instill it as a culture and systematic approach, conduct and daily corporate practice. 

The lecture, aimed at spreading awareness and knowledge, was presented by Dr. Saeed Al Tunaiji and attended by HE Mohammad Ahmed Amin, Assistant Director General for the Communication and Business Sector at SCCI as well as a large number of staff.

Mr. Amin said that forgiveness is a human trait that we cannot do without in building societies and corporations that hope to develop and prosper, and he added that the UAE is model worthy of being emulated in forgiveness, openness and accepting the other.

Mr. Amin pointed out that Sharjah Chamber is keen to instill forgiveness in its staff as a corporate value, in line with our dear religion that prompts us to forgive and be merciful, and in line with the wise leadership’s example that instilled forgiveness, accepting the other, openness and rejecting extremism and closed-mindedness, and he pointed out that forgiveness, patience, and smiling are indispensable for pleasing others and providing them with the best services, apart from being essential as an attitude for interaction among the one and the same team to ensure coherence and constructive communication. 

Mr. Amin said Sharjah has become an inspirational city for running a business that would not have attracted visitors and tourists from all over the world were it not a healthy social and cultural environment, accepting of the other without discrimination based on religion, creed or color, and he stressed that organizing this session comes within this frame and serves enhancing Sharjah’s name and its stature as an advanced society were forgiveness and civility dominate. 

For his part Dr. Saeed Al Tunaiji explained that forgiveness requires having being open hearted and avoiding being angry at others, staying in tune with an internal feeling of peace and not fearing to make mistakes but learning from the process.

Sharjah Chamber seeks to instill forgiveness as a corporate value by preparing its cadre and enhancing their belief in the value of forgiveness as a sustainable corporate, cultural and human component to become systematic approach for thought and work, and a daily practice. 

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently launched the annual training summer camp for high school and college students under the theme “starting with you”, one of its Sharjah Training and Development Center’s initiatives that seeks to provide an environment for training and gaining knowledge, involving 20 students.

That program aims to train students by utilizing job and vocational knowledge and getting them acquainted with tasks being undertaken by the Chamber’s staff members at the different departments and sections, in line with a supervisory program, as the Chamber is keen to instill the concept of social responsibility in them and prepare them to join the workforce and hone their skills to complete their duties to their best abilities and to become acquainted with the workplace by practicing different roles of work for a specified time. 

The orientation meeting that was attended by Mohammed Amin, Assistant Director General for the Business and Communication Sector, and Mariam Al Shamsi, Assistant Director General for the Support Services Sector, who said that organizing this summer camp comes under the initiative “starting with you” that was started several years ago to facilitate training youth on job performance at the work place and making them aware of what’s required for effective performance, which can be done by gaining skills and being ready for the future in different job fields that enable them to take responsibility, show their creativity and invest their energy in the work place.

Al Shamsi added that the Sharjah Training and Development Center at the human resources department of Sharjah Chamber, in line with the directives of HE Abdullah Al Oweis, Sharjah Chamber’s Chairman, is keen to run this training program in line with the stipulated standards and regulations that take into account the educational level of every candidate wishing to join, adherence to the full-time work day and taking responsibility to learn and complete the tasks delegated to them. 

Al Shamsi stressed that the program is being run by experienced staff who will assist students and spare no effort in helping them and giving them advice, to motivate them to gain the skills they’ll need to fill job vacancies that suit their abilities and office skills in the coming years.

Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Human Resources manager, then took the students on a tour of the different departments and sections of the Chamber during which he gave a presentation of each department’s role in assisting the Chamber’s members, and he pledged to provide all the assistance needed to make this training summer camp a success for all students. 

On Friday, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry concluded the activities of the 28^th Sharjah Ramadan Festival that spanned over the holy month of Ramadan and Eid period. Organized throughout all the regions in the Emirate of Sharjah, the festival’s activities attracted wide attendance of all community segments.

1750 outlets took part in the annual event and recorded over AED50 million in sales. Visitors and shoppers won cash prizes and other gift products with total value of over AED2 million.

Abdullah Sultan Al Oweis, Chairman of the Board of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry said: “the wide participation and positive impact of the festival assert that the Sharjah Ramadan Festival has achieved remarkable success in its 28^th edition. With its unique prizes and offers, the festival is attracting increasing importance every year, and has recently became one of the key social, economic, and shopping events in Sharjah.”

For his part, Khaled bin Butti Al Hajeri, Director General of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry noted that the number of visitors and shoppers at mall during the festival period is increasing annually, especially as this year’s version offered sales up to 80%, in addition to amazing prizes that exceeded AED2 million in value.

Mohammed Ahmed Amin, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Business Sector explained that the festival has again proven its importance on the events agenda in Sharjah as shoppers and retailers anticipate it to get great offers for the first and realize increasing sales for the latter. It is representing an active season for tourism, from the UAE and abroad, as residents and visitors of Sharjah are keen to utilize the promotions offered during the festival.

Ibrahim Rashid Al Jarwan, Director of Economic Relations at the Chamber pointed out that sales always increase during the holy month of Ramadan. “This year we realized a record number in sales, while shopping malls recorded 30-35% increase in sales.

Sharjah Ramadan Festival 2017 hosted various activities and events, including cultural, medical and heritage lectures and seminars. It also witnessed multiple art and entertainment shows at malls. The organizing committee was keen to enrich the experience of visitors with daily draws for cash and product prizes; in addition to the grand prize offered by Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry; “Nissan Patrol” that the lucky winner got following an electronic draw on the last day of Eid.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry has announced the agenda for the 5^th GCC Human Resources and Labour Market Forum, due to be held October 15-16, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has stressed its keenness to adopt a culture of future prospecting to instill as a work system to be emulated by its leaders and staff members, to achieve the goals it was created for and crystalize its mission, vision and values, achieve the leadership’s wise vision, elevate the business community in Sharjah and ultimately empower the emirate’s position as a pioneering regional and international economic hub.

This came at a workshop organized by the Training and Development Center at Sharjah Chamber that hosted Major General Dr. Abdul Quddus Abdul Razzaq Al Obaidly, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Quality and Excellence at Dubai Police that was attended by HE Abdullah Sultan Al Oweis, SCCI’s board members  and Chairman of the Board, government officials, local and federal entities’ directors, and CEOs of prominent companies from the private sector in Sharjah and a 100 staff members from the Chamber.

The workshop revolved around the culture of future prospecting in the UAE, how to put in place future plans for the local and federal departments, the position of prospecting in the fourth generation’s system, and how to deal with the topic of prospecting relevant to capabilities and results and specifying its indicators. 

Mariam Saif Al Shamsi, Director General Assistant for the Support Services Sector, said that organizing this workshop comes within Sharjah Chamber’s endeavors to enhance excellence and scientific strategic planning and incorporating them into its work culture, which would elevate its performance and services to the levels of prominent of establishments in this field, and would guarantee the best representation for the business community in Sharjah emirate.

Major General Dr. Abdul Quddus Abdul Razzaq Al Obaidly announced a plan to organize  workshops to enhance individuals’ and families’ abilities in prospecting and making strategic plans and said: “We take upon ourselves the issue of educating society and establishments on the proper techniques for strategic planning, and our goal is to train 10,000 individuals as part of a systematic plan to make planning an Emirati systematic approach”, and he pointed out that most board members and consultants are working on making strategic planning and prospecting a reality in the near future.  

At the end of the workshop the Chairman of the Board and the Director General honored Major General Al Obaidly in appreciation for his efforts and contributions to enhance a culture of excellence in the UAE, and, Al Obaidly, in turn, expressed his gratitude to Sharjah Chamber for organizing such discussion sessions, lectures, and workshops to motivate the work teams’ culture from time to time and praised the level of attendance and interaction at the workshop.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry has examined the means to enhance economic relations with the People’s Republic of China and how Sharjah could make use of its location and competitive advantages as a hub for Chinese companies that wish to expand in the region.

This came at Sharjah Chamber’s hosting of a delegation from the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade  Ningxia Branch at its headquarters recently with HE Mohammad Rashid Deemas, board member, Mohammad Ahmed Amin, Director General Assistant for the Business and Communication Sector, and Omar Ali Saleh, Director of International Relations at the Chamber.

In his address Mr. Deemas praised the strong economic relations that bind China and the UAE, especially with Sharjah becoming a model destination for Chinese companies.

HE Deemas stressed Sharjah Chamber’s keenness to build strong ties with the business community in China and working to apprise it of opportunities for investment in Sharjah emirate, after receiving Chinese delegations from the private and public sectors who wish to use Sharjah as a starting point to expand their trade and economic relations.

Mr Deemas pointed out the excellent relations between Sharjah Chamber and its Chinese counterparts that are always utilized to serve the business community in Sharjah and especially with the cooperation with China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Ningxia Branch.

The Chinese delegation presented Sharjah Chamber with an invitation to take part in the China-Arab States Expo 2017 that will be hosted by China this September, an excellent platform for cooperation between China and the Arab countries in various fields such as agriculture, services and logistics, tourism, financial services, innovation and others that attract investment.

The exhibition comprises forums, workshops and bilateral meetings that contribute to apprising the business community of investment opportunities in China and apprising Chinese companies of investment opportunities in the Arab markets.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry has enhanced its initiatives to support development in the central and eastern regions of the emirate by developing innovative economic events that focus on activating commercial and industrial activities and opportunities for investment and improve competition in both regions.  

Within this framework Sharjah Chamber has launched a number of initiatives such as the first economic meeting in Khorfakkan, a forum on opportunities for investment in Kelba city, Al Dhaid Dates Festival, a forum on developing exhibitions in the eastern region, an initiative on local factories’ productivity and supporting “Al Maleh and Fishing” fifth festival.

His Excellency Abudullah Sultan Al Oweis, Chairman of the Board of Sharjah Chamber, stressed the Chamber’s keenness to develop all regions of Sharjah emirate and enhance competition in their the eastern and central provinces’ markets and achieve sustainable development.

The Sharjah Exports Development Center at Sharjah Chamber is taking part in Project Qatar 2017, the 14th International Construction Technology and Building Materials Exhibition, launched 8 May in the Doha, Qatar.

Sharjah Exports Development Center takes part in Project Qatar alongside 516 exhibitors from 33 countries, in order to apprise participants of Sharjah’s exports regionally and internationally, as the event is expected to attract more than 1600 visitors of businessmen and officials from around the world.

Sharjah Exports Center is taking part in the event with a select group of national private sector companies representing diverse industrial and commercial sectors from Sharjah seeking opportunities for cooperation with Qatari and international companies, with a delegation led by Marwan Salem Al Muheiri, Exhibitions section head, and Ali Al Jabri, exhibitions executive.

Abdulaziz Shataf, Assistant Director General for the Members Services Sector and Director of Sharjah Exports Development Center, said that the Chamber is taking part in Project Qatar 2017 as part of the marketing plan of the Center and to enhance Sharjah’s presence in the Qatari market that is gearing up to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Shataf added that taking part in this event helps enable companies operating in Sharjah to get acquainted with the latest developments in construction equipment and materials and to seize opportunities, all within Sharjah Chamber’s strategy to develop the industrial sector and increase the gross domestic product of the emirate, and apprise the emirate as a remarkable industrial destination regionally and internationally and an attractive region for investment.

Abdulaziz Shattaf explained that the Sharjah Exports Development Center places great value in taking part in economic events abroad to apprise investors and the business community in Sharjah of the latest international developments in the different sectors and of the needs of the other markets, which would broaden the geographical spread of Sharjah’s exports around the world and enhance competition in the local private sector and its communication with its counterparts around the world and responsiveness to opportunities in marketing in the region and globally.  

Project Qatar 2017 is seeing the participation of many national pavilions such including French, Italian,  German, Chinese, Turkish, Kuwaiti and Pakistani stands, and is an excellent opportunity to learn about opportunities for investment made available by countries taking part in the event.

It is remarkable that the exhibition is a meeting place for businessmen from around the world and project managers of companies in the region under one roof to learn about the latest products and best solutions in fields relevant to the exhibition. 

Sharjah Chamber recently celebrated the middle of the Hijri month of Shaaban with “Haqil-laila” traditional event at Sharjah Chamber’s headquarters, as part of the Chamber’s keenness to celebrate social and traditional Emirati days and instilling them in the hearts of children.

The event was attended by HE Khaled bin Butti Al Hajeri, Director General, Marriam Al Shamsi, Assistant Director General for Support Services Sector, Mohammad Ahmed Amin, Assistant Director General for Communication and Business Sector, and staff members from the Chamber and Expo Centre Sharjah. 

Students from Al Darary and Al Khan Model schools took part in the event, in addition to home of the elderly in Sharjah, as well as Emirati artist Ghazal who sang for the children, dressed in their traditional Emirati dresses in delight for this blessed evening and later receiving sweets and nuts.

The event comprised a traditional tent in the lobby of the Chamber that was decorated with Emirati flags, where traditional Emirati dishes and sweets were presented for all attendees, and some traditional handiwork crafts were showcased in their dedicated tents.

At the end of the celebrations HE Khaled Al Hajeri honored participants and certificates of appreciation were distributed among them and they had their pictures taken.

Celebrating this event is part of authentic Emirati heritage, passed on from generation to generation, and children are keen to celebrate it every year by visiting their neighbors’ houses and carrying small cloth bags to collect sweets and nuts in, making their hosts happy, while signing their forefathers’ traditional hymns or “anashid”, which contributes to enhancing their national and cultural identity and safeguarding their heritage and culture. 

Sharjah Award for Economic Excellence board of trustees, (shj.Seen), an initiative of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has approved a number of resolutions that enhance a competitive environment among the business community in Sharjah emirate and achieves the Award’s strategic goals that focus on developing the private sector’s performance and efficiency in Sharjah and the U.A.E.

This was the outcome of a meeting that was held recently and presided over by HE Abdullah Al Oweis, Sharjah Chamber’s Chairman of the Board of and was attended by HE Khaled Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority, HE Waleed Bu Khatir, Sarah Al Madani, Mohammad Al Shehhi, Saeed Al Suweidi and Lalul Samuel, members of the Sharjah Award’s board of Trustees, in addition to Khaled Al Hajeri, SCCI Director General, Mohammad Amin, Assistant Director General for the Communication and Business sector at the Chamber, and Nada Al Hajeri, Sharjah Award’s general coordinator. 

Expo Centre Sharjah organized a brainstorming session in Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s Businessmen Club to identify the pillars of the Centre’s integrated five-year strategy (from 2018 to 2022) and chart its new vision, mission, objectives, and institutional values. The Centre’s Chairman and members of the Board of Directors were present during the session. 

His Excellency Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, the Chairman of both Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Expo Centre Sharjah, chaired the session, which was attended by His Excellency Waleed Abdul Rahman Bukhatir, Second Vice Chairman of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Centre’s member of Board of Directors; Expo Centre Sharjah’s members of the Board of Directors; members of the Centre; his Excellency Saif Mohamed Al Midfa, the CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah; Sheikha Azza Al Qasimi, the Centre’s Deputy Chief Operating Officer; and experts from Cardiff Management Consultants (CMC). CMC provides technical consultation during the planning and execution of this strategy. 

The brainstorming session sought to identify the axes of the strategy, achievable objectives, and mechanisms of implementation. This was preceded by a detailed review of the current state and its variables, and the opportunities and the best ways to realize them. Furthermore, the session examined the statement of risks and challenges and probed into how to overcome them during the work course of the Centre. 

Preparing a new strategy for the Centre, Al Owais confirmed, should promote and upgrade the exhibition industry in a way that corresponds with “UAE Vision 2021” and with the vision of future Sharjah.  The Centre’s new mission, vision, and objectives, according to Al Owais, will improve its services, activities and programs. 

On the other hand, Al Midfa said that developing this new and ambitious strategy for the Centre mirrors the management’s belief in investing locally, nationally and internationally in the exhibition industry. In addition to the Centre’s resources, staff’s expertise, and contributions, the supervision and efforts from both Boards of Directors offer additional support to the sought-after development in the exhibition industry.      

The brainstorming session, Al Midfa confirmed, resulted in identifying mechanisms that should allow Expo Centre Sharjah to become a main player in developing a viable exhibition industry in the coming years. Expo will earn this role not only through investing in skilled human labor and modern marketing strategies and plans, but also through the continuous development of service facilities.    

His Excellency Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, reaffirmed the important role played by the media in positioning Sharjah and the UAE in general as a global investment hub.

AL Owais was commenting during the ceremony held by SCCI and Expos Center Sharjah  at Majaz Water Front in honor of media partners. The event included a number of representatives from the leading media channels in the UAE. The event came in recognition of the role played by the media in highlighting great achievements and enhancing communications among business sectors.

The event was attended by HE Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI, along with a number of board members; HE Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, Chief Executive Officer; HE Mohammed Ahmed Amin, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Business; Mr. Jamal Bu Zinjal, head of the Media Department, and a number of executives at SCCI and Expo Center Sharjah.

In his welcome speech, HE the Chairman of SCCI thanked media representatives in presence for their great efforts over the past period, in support of SCCI and Expo Center Sharjah, via their media coverage and attentive focus on their activities and initiatives. These efforts, Al Owais affirmed, supports the comprehensive development of Sharjah.

  “2016 was a monumental year in terms of collaboration between SCCI, Expo Center Sharjah, and the media. Over 600 news releases were published in various channels, covering economic activity of SCCI within the UAE and beyond, visits and delegations welcomed by the chamber, as well as local and international exhibitions, fairs, and events organized by Expo Center.

Concluding the event, HE Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, accompanied by HE Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, honored media representatives.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry has discussed mutual relations and commercial ties between the business communities in Sharjah and Belarus, with an official delegation from the east European country consisting of business representatives from various sectors.

The meeting, held at the Chamber’s premises in Sharjah, was attended by His Excellency Khaled bin Butti Al Hajri, Director-General of SCCI; HE Roman Golovchenko, Belarus Ambassador to the UAE; Mohammed Shattaf, Assistant Director-General for Members Services; and a number of business figures from Sharjah and Belarus.

Commenting on the meeting, Khaled bin Butti Al Hajri higlighted SCCI’s efforts to promote investment opportunities in Sharjah, and represent the interests of the local business community in the Emirate. SCCI, bin Butti continued, “aims to enhance Sharjah’s position as a global investment hub that offers appealing opportunities, and support the wider economic development in the UAE.”

Bin Butti invited the delegation to take advantage of these opportunities in the strategically located emirate, and the services it avails to international businesspeople, including cutting edge logistic support, banking systems, regulations, and world class fairs and events. Bin Butti also highlighted the Emirate’s economic diversification policy, and focus on transformative industries.

For his part, HE Roman Golovchenko, Belarus Ambassador to the UAE, indicated that the meeting was a great opportunity for the delegation to learn more about collaboration and investment opportunities available for Belarus’ private sector companies.

Golovchenko invited the business community in Sharjah to take advantage of the industrial modernization program launched in Belarus over the past decade, especially in petrochemical industries, one of the leading sectors in the country worth 6-8 billion dollars annually. Transformative industries (including plastic and rubber) form around 9% of this sector. Belarus is rich in raw materials, such as potassium, halite, wood, phosphorus, chalk, limestone, and natural dyes. The Ambassador also highlighted that the main industrial complex in Belarus is home for over 80 companies.

HE Abdullah Sultan Al Oweis, Sharjah Chamber’s Chairman of the Board, stressed that strong economic ties bind the United Arab Emirates and especially Sharjah with the Republic of Uganda, and pointed out the Chamber’s keenness to build relations  of cooperation in commerce and industry through economic events in Uganda in order to develop all sectors and open new horizons for investment for the business community in the UAE.

This came in a meeting  hosting HE Rebecca Kadja, Speaker of the Uganda Parliament and president of the African Group in the International Parliamentary Union in Sharjah Chamber, attended by HE Jassem Al Naqbi, member of the National Council, and HE Khaled bin Butti Al Hajeri, Director General of Sharjah Chamber and officials.  

The two sides examined the means to enhance cooperation between them in all economic, commercial and agricultural sectors, and the Ugandan guest called on Emirati businessmen to invest in her country now that a package of regulations and legislations have been adopted by the Ugandan parliament to encourage investment in Uganda, and her Excellency promised to provide them with all possible facilities.

Al Oweis stressed that the Chamber will continue to play its role in developing economic ties with Africa that comprises promising markets and huge opportunities for Emirati businessmen, explore the available opportunities for investment for businessmen in both countries and attract more investment and projects for the UAE and Sharjah in particular.

It is worth the mention that Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as part of its strategic plan to open new markets for investors and Emirati businessmen, had organized numerous visits and commercial delegates in the past two years for east Africa to examine the markets and areas for investment, as this visit is the fruit of diligent efforts to enhance the local economy and achieve prosperity for all inhabitants.  

At the end of the meeting a tour of the permanent exhibition of local industries was organized for the visiting delegation that was apprised of the outstanding industrial growth in Sharjah emirate that exports many of its products to the Ugandan markets where they’re known for their good quality and competitive prices.  

Marwan Salem Al Muhairi, Exhibitions section head at Sharjah Exports Development Center of Sharjah Chamber stressed that more than 48 companies from around the world, specialized in transformative industries, have expressed interest in investing in Sharjah emirate and taking advantage of the huge facilities and services and outstanding incentives made available by the emirate for the industrial sector through a wide range of regulations that attract investment.

This came during Sharjah Exports Development Center’s participation within the UAE’s pavilion in Hannover Messe 2017 fair, one of the largest international fairs specialized in industrial innovations and technology, launched on 24 April and due to take place through 28 of this month in Hannover, Germany. 

As part of its endeavor to develop its staff members’ abilities and continually enhance their skills and keep updated on international best practices for supporting economic projects and business incubators, a delegation from Sharjah Chamber recently took part in a specialized course on leadership programs for innovative enterprises in California, USA.

Sarah Al Madani, board member, led the Chamber’s delegation which included Muna Omran, small and medium-sized business center manager and some staff members. The course comprised holding business meetings that discussed means for cooperation between Sharjah Chamber and American authorities specialized in supporting entrepreneurs and their businesses, and creating an environment that motivates and develops young entrepreneurs.

This courses was aimed at getting acquainted with best practices in the USA that are being implemented in leadership programs that support small and medium-sized enterprises, their role in economic development by fostering new ideas to establish enterprises of their own and facilitating their launch, in addition to searching for new partnerships for the business incubators in the emirate.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced signing a cooperation agreement with CRIF for Industry and Business Research and Consultancy. This agreement aims to enhance industry and business sectors in Sharjah by enabling SCCI to provide best quality services to all sectors according to modern international standards. it also aims to increase the attractiveness of Sharjah as a global investment destination.

His Excellency Khaled bin Butti Al Hajri, Director- General of SCCI signed the agreement with Manjeet Chhabra, Managing Director of CRIF during an official event that was attended by Abdulaziz Shattaf, Assistant Director-General for Members Services at SCCI and officials from both parties.

The agreement aims to conduct studies and analyze work styles and methods in industry and trade zones in Sharjah. These will include surveys on industry level that will cover production mechanisms and entities operating in these zones, raw materials used, end products, and market access methods. The results will be utilized to provide scientific recommendations for developing business in Sharjah.

His Excellency Khaled bin Butti Al Hajri asserted that the industrial sector contributes with 38% to Sharjah’s GDP. Over 2240 industrial establishments are operating in all industrial zones in Sharjah. This highlights the importance of the agreement, as it will focus on these establishments and their work mechanisms. The agreement falls within the framework of SCCI’s strategy to provide support programs for the industrial sectors.

CRIF for Industry and Business Research and Consultancy is a global leader and key player in its business domain specializing in credit information systems, business information and credit management solutions. The company is listed on FinTech as one of the leading technology providers for financial and industry entities worldwide.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry has signed an agreement with Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry in its capacity as the representative of the International Certificates of Origin Council, according to which CoOs issued by Sharjah Chamber will be awarded international recognition. The agreement aims to allow scaling of international commercial exchange, facilitating investments, and allowing national products to enter international markets.

The agreement was signed at Dubai Chamber by His Excellency Khaled bin Butti Al Hajri, Director- General of SCCI, and Atiq Juma Faraj Nasib, Senior Director of Commercial Services Sector at Dubai Chamber, and Deputy Chair of the International Country of Origin Accreditation Committee of the ICC World Chamber Federation. The signing was also attended by HE Humaid Mohammed bin Salim, Secretary-General of the Federation of UAE's Chambers of Commerce and Industry; Abdulaziz Shattaf, Assistant Director-General for Members Services at SCCI; Saif Al Matrooshi, Director of Membership and Accreditation at SCCI, along with senior officials from both sides.

His Excellency Khaled bin Butti Al Hajri, Director- General of SCCI, described the agreement as a major step in supporting the competitiveness of Sharjah's private sector, and enhancing exports from the Emirate to international markets.

Al Hajri reaffirmed that SCCI is keen on enhancing collaboration with all parties in order to support the business sector and elevate its members’ capabilities and presence on the international level. SCCI, Al Hajri continued, will spare an effort to offer innovative solutions and simplify processes and procedures for its members.

For his part, Atiq Juma Faraj Nasib, Senior Director of Commercial Services Sector at Dubai Chamber and Deputy Chair of the International Country of Origin Accreditation Committee of the ICC World Chamber Federation, said the agreement reflects the strong collaboration and partnership that joins the two parties, highlighting that abiding by international standards in CoO issuance enhances the position of the UAE business community and elevates its international reputation. Nasib invited all local and regional chambers to adopt these standards, in order to enhance collaboration and strengthen ties with international peers.

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) is participating in the International Exhibition of Hanover Messi 2017, one of the world's largest industrial and technology innovation events, which will take place on April 24-28 in Hanover, Germany.

The pavilion, which led by the Ministry of Economy and the Department of Economic Development in Abu Dhabi, comprises a number of industrial institutions, governmental and semi-governmental bodies, as well as a number of leading private sector institutions. 

The Hanover Messi exhibition is the largest industrial exhibition in the world, its attracting more than 250,000 Visitors, businessmen and officials from all over the world.

Khalid bin Butti Al Hajri, Director General of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: "The Chamber's participation in this important international industrial event because its keenness to keep abreast of the latest industrial developments, invest economic opportunities and learn about the latest technology in the industrial field to inform that to businessmen and investors in Sharjah about the  latest developments in the industrial and technological fields

He added that the participation in this Industrial Exhibition comes within the strategy of the Chamber aimed to strengthening the industrial sector in the Emirate of Sharjah.

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry has announced forming a new mutual committee with the Sharjah Economic Development Department, aiming at studying the current status of the gold and jewellery industry in the Emirate, and responding to the aspirations and requirements of stakeholders in this sector. The new committee comes as a new specialized zone for the gold and jewellery industry is soon to be inaugurated outside the city of Sharjah.

The announcement was made during the consultation meeting between SCCI, SEDD and representatives from the industry, at SCCI in Sharjah, and attended by HE Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI, HE Sultan Abdullah bin Hadda Al Suwaidi, Chairman of Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD), and HE Khaled bin Butti Al Hajri, Director-General of SCCI.

The meeting discussed requirements presented by merchants and industrialists, pertaining to the new specialized zone soon to be inaugurated outside the city of Sharjah. Representatives from industry stakeholders expressed their requirements in terms of technical, professional, and HSE standards in the new zone.

During the meeting, SCCI chairman announced forming the mutual committee, which will be tasked with studying technical standards in terms of dedicated space for workshops, interior exterior architecture, and other aspects of the new premises. Further, the committee will study lease value for these spaces so that balanced and steady rates can be achieved to support this vital sector.

Commenting on this, HE Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI, said: “Gold and jewellery is one of the oldest industries in the world. Today, it is in need of further regulations and a strict focus on quality standards and conditions, in order to elevate the industry and move it to the next phase, as well as enhance its contribution to building a sustainable economy in Sharjah, and across the UAE.”

For his part, HE Sultan Abdullah bin Hadda Al Suwaidi, Chairman of Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD) highlighted that SEDD, in line with its mandate to control market activity, and in collaboration with SCCI, has studied the current situation of the gold and jewellery industry, with the aim of developing the sector and extending further regulations to its activity.

SEDD, HE continued, concluded that it is important for workshops and stores in this sector to be transferred to a specialized zone outside the city, which will enhance HSE both for city residents and industry specialists. This step also falls in line with international best practices in this sector.

Al Suwaidi also noted that the meeting aimed to discuss concerns and requirements with stakeholders, in order to achieve common understanding and consensus on the standards and conditions required in the new specialized zone.

HE Abdullah Sultan Al Oweis, Chairman of the Board of Sharjah Chamber, welcomed His Excellency Mr. Shinki Asanbekova, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan in the UAE and stressed the Chamber’s keenness on develping trade and economic ties between Sharjah emirate and the Republic of Kyrgystan to new horizons.

This came recently at Sharjah Chamber’s headquarters upon receiving HE the new ambassador and his delegation by HE Abdullah Al Oweis, Chairman of the board, HE Mohammad Amin, Director General Assistant for Communication and Business Sector, and Jassim Al Mutawa, Consultant of Relation  with The Commonwealth of Independent states. 

The two sides discussed investment opportunities for the different economic sectors and cooperation to enhance trade between them, and reviewed the available means to promote investment opportunities on the other side, facilities provided by each country and economic events. The two parties stressed exchanging commercial information and regulations governing investment, working to  organize joint trade and industrial  exhibitions, encouraging economic events to take part in exhibitions organized by both parties, and making use of the outstanding facilities provided by Expo Center Sharjah to introduce the diverse Kyrgystani products.   

HE Al Oweis highlighted the huge facilities provided by the emirate for Kyrgystani businessmen who wish to invest here, as Sharjah enjoys a diverse economy, systematic regulations and legislation, government facilities, and investment opportunities that have attracted the attention of businessmen  around the world.

HE Al Oweis highlighted services provided by the Chamber to its clients and its role in serving the business community and called on Kyrgystani businessmen to take advantage of the facilities and incentives made available by the Chamber and get to know their counterparts in Sharjah to discuss mutual cooperation between themselves.

For his part HE the ambassador thanked Sharjah Chamber for the huge support and outstanding facilities it provided for  Kyrgystani investors who work in the emirate, and emphasized his country’s ambition to increase cooperation in Sharjah with its integrated infrastructure and promising opportunities that fulfil businessmen’s aims. HE the ambassador highlighted the most remarkable opportunities in his country for Emirati businessmen of the different industrial, commercial and agricultural sectors.    

HE the ambassador invited Sharjah Chamber to visit his country and look into the available opportunities for investment and the huge facilities provided for businessmen and investors who wish to take advantage of opportunities for investment in Kyrgystan.

The Chairman of Sharjah Chamber thanked HE the ambassador for his invitation that will be considered in order to get to know the diverse economic sectors in Kyrgystan and open new horizons for Emirati businessmen and investors, in order to enhance the local economy and achieve prosperity for the UAE’s society.

To conclude the visit HE the ambassador toured the permanent commercial exhibition of the local industries that comprises more than 100 factory that were chosen from 2800 factories in Sharjah emirate

HE Abdullah Sultan Al Oweis, Chairman of the Board of Sharjah Chamber, met recently at its headquarters HE Abdou Raouf Ahamada, Consul General of the Comoros and discussed enhancing cooperation ties between the Chamber and the Consulate General for the interest of the two nations.

The meeting, attended by HE Khaled bin Butti Al Hajeri, Director General of Sharjah Chamber, and Salem Omar, Deputy Consul General of Comoros, discussed creating programs and events to introduce the investment opportunities available to the business communities of both countries at the other side, and both discussed the services and facilities provided by Sharjah Chamber for its members from the private sector, and the readiness for cooperation in supporting companies and establishments from the Comoros that wish to invest in the emirate.   

The Consul General expressed great interest in Sharjah emirate’s experience in supporting and managing investment opportunities for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), and discussed replicating this successful experience in his country; HE the Chairman expressed the Chamber’s total willingness to offer its accumulative experience and expertise to the business community in the Comoros.

The Consul General of the Comoros thanked Sharjah Chamber for its continual efforts in developing economic ties between the two countries through various means of support and cooperation and outstanding facilities provided by the Chamber to support his country’s economy in all fields.

Director General Receives Head of the China Council for the Development of International Trade

HE Khaled bin Butti Al Hajeri, Director General, met Jiang Shijing, outgoing representative of the China Council for the Development of International Trade in the Gulf region, who was accompanied by Zhou Guangju, the new representative of the council, in the attendance of Mohammad Ahmed Amin, Director General Assistant for Communication and Business Sector, and Omar Ali Saleh, Director of International Relations Department.  

Al Hajeri praised the huge role being played by the China Council that is based in Sharjah to increase the trade volume between the two countries and starting new Chinese investment projects in Sharjah, and praised the huge efforts made by the outgoing representative of the Chinese Council that contributed to enhancing economic ties between the two countries, and stressed the Chamber’s continual support and providing all facilities available to assist the new representative in his mandate.

The Director General praised the goals achieved in the past few years and stressed that today’s meeting is a continuation of the cooperation started with a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 1988 between the two sides that has had a positive effect on economic ties between the two countries.

For his part the new representative expressed his appreciation of the role being played by Sharjah Chamber in motivating cooperation and economic partnerships between the business communities in the two countries and the huge facilities provided by the Chamber for Chinese investors and its constant safeguarding the interests of the business community in Sharjah and enhancing bilateral relations between Sharjah and China.

His Excellency Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and His Excellency, Alexander Mora, Minister of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica, discussed prospects of cooperation between Sharjah and Costa Rica.

Al Owais also met His Excellency Mohammed bin Obaid Al Mazrowei, Chairman of the Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development. They discussed ways of fostering cooperation between the chamber and the authority in various food industries to serve the interests of private sector.

The meeting with the Costa Rican Minister was held at the chamber’s headquarter, and was attended by His Excellency Waleed Abdul Rahman Bu Khatir, Second Deputy Chairman of SCCI, His Excellency Khalid bin Butti Al Hajri, Director General of SCCI; and Fatima Al Maghreb, Head of the Economic Cooperation and External Relations Department at SCCI.

During the meeting, both sides discussed ways to activate the signed agreements between the chamber and the Costa Rican side, and to introduce the private sector to investment opportunities in Costa Rica.

Al Owais stressed on the keenness of Sharjah Chamber to drive the economic and trade relations between the Emirate and Costa Rica forward, establishing more cooperation and mutual investments to serve the interests of both sides.

For his part, Mora invited SCCI’s Chairman to visit Costa Rica, to motivate the private sector to benefit from Costa Rica’s health, food and hospitality industries. He also urged the SCCI to utilize the opportunities at an economic exhibition set to be hosted in Costa Rica by the end of September, with the participation of over 1000 national companies from various economic sectors, highlighting Costa Rica’s interest in the Halal market.

Cooperation with the Authority

On a separate note, the Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently met the Chairman of the Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development, at the chamber’s headquarter. The meeting was attended by His Excellency Khalid bin Butti Al Hajri and Fatima Al Maghreb, and discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between the two sides and work to organize the "Mauritanian-Gulf Business Forum" in Mauritania. The meeting also focused on methods of maintaining the partnership between the SCCI and the authority, with the support of the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce & Industry and other Arab, regional bodies.

The meeting resulted in the agreement on coordinating a preparatory visit in the near future, to ensure the success of the joint event. The visit aims to reach a constructive visualization on investment opportunities in Mauritania, and implementing projects that strengthen relations between all parties and contribute to the development of food industries in the country.

It is worth mentioning that the GCC-Mauritania Business Forum will focus on the development of trade and economic prospects for fostering partnership between the participating parties. The Forum will focus on the investment environment in Mauritania and cooperation between the GCC and Mauritanian business enterprises.

His Excellency Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber Commerce and Industry, reaffirmed the chamber’s keenness on contributing to the strengthening and development of the emirate’s economic ties with different countries around the world, especially in Africa, which represents a promising markets and offers great opportunities for Emirati businessmen, and will strive through the means to discover investment opportunities available for the local private sector and local investors, as it promotes their activities and businesses and develops economic relations and trade exchange between Sharjah and African countries.

The chairman recently welcomed His Excellency Minister of Economy of the Republic of Angola, Abrahao Pio dos Santos Gourgel, and his accompanying delegation at the Chamber’s headquarters in Sharjah, in the presence of His Excellency Walid BuKhatir, Second Vice Chairman, His Excellency Khalid bin Butti Al Hajri, Director General of the Chamber and Mohammed Ahmed Amin, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Business. The minister and the chairman discussed enhancing the business relations between Sharjah and Angola, advancing the stages of work towards levels that contribute in enhancing the volume of trade exchange and launching mutual investment projects, based on the offerings of each party.

During the meeting, the minister presented the various investment opportunities his country offers in tourism, agriculture, mining and food industries, and its keenness to facilitate all the required processes and provide incentives to attract foreign investors, especially those from the UAE, to participate in the investment sectors and support the development process his country is aiming for.

The minister also stressed on the importance of exchanging information and experiences between Sharjah and Angola to encourage businessmen to build effective investment relations amongst one another. They also discussed means of organizing an effective program to exchange visits between trade delegations that would also participate in exhibitions organized in both countries. The minister invited businessmen in the emirate to visit his country and find out about the investment opportunities available to them, especially in the food industry, where the minister sees that there are various opportunities for Sharjah’s investors.

The two sides also reviewed the services and facilities provided by the Sharjah Chamber to its affiliated members, representing the private sector, and the readiness and cooperation to support Angolan companies and institutions looking to invest in the emirate.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry held on Monday a workshop introducing commercial insurance, in cooperation with the Insurance Authority, at the headquarters of Sharjah Chamber to spread awareness of insurance in the  commercial companies’ sector.  

The workshop was attended by HE Abdullah Sultan Al Oweis, Chairman of the board, HE Mohammad Ahmed Amin, Assistant Director General for the business sector, department directors and section heads, in addition to businessmen and representatives of commercial and industrial companies in Sharjah.

The workshop reviewed commercial insurance as protection for property and protection against insolvency, and as an aid to enter into large enterprises that provides necessary financing for economic enterprises as needed.

Federal Law No. 6 of 2007 on establishing the Insurance Authority was reviewed as a regulator for this sector and competition enhancer in the local market, supporting diversification of the economy to achieve comprehensive development. 

Directives and regulations issued by the insurance authority were reviewed, including the executive regulations for establishing the Authority, money laundering, financing terrorism, damage assessment  and instructing insurance companies, organizing insurance agents and instructing  insurance companies on financial matters. 

HE Mohammad Ahmed Amin of the Chamber’s business sector said on opening the workshop: “ Sharjah emirate, with the wise leadership of HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has been at the forefront in supporting investors and businessmen and protecting their right to insurance and investment and educating them on their rights and duties in line with the laws and legislation of the emirate.”  

Amin continued: “This workshop embodies efforts made by the Chamber to hold legal and educational forums, providing an economic and investment environment that serves the economic sector in the emirate, as this workshop aims to specify the procedure for insurance that safeguards all parties’ rights and obligations and contributes to the sustainability of growth of companies and factories.”

On his part Maher Afanah, financial expert at the Insurance Authority, thanked Sharjah Chamber for hosting this workshop in order to achieve clear legal and technical principles and financial stability through internal work as well as such useful meetings.  

Afanah stressed that “the Insurance Authority aims to regulate and supervise the insurance sector and develop insurance services and nationalize job vacancies in the insurance market, as the authority has made tangible achievements on these fronts,” and added “the Authority will enhance its role in developing the local insurance sector and widen its initiatives in legislation and creating partnerships to serve the national economy and enhance the role being played by the insurance sector in  economic diversification.” 

It is worth the mention that the Emirati insurance market is the biggest in volume of insurance premiums achieved among the GCC countries and the region as these have reached Dh37 billion, and investment made by local insurance companies have reached Dh40 billion.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry participated in  the Annual Investment Meeting, launched recently in its seventh edition under the patronage of  His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai . The event is due to run until  4 April at Dubai International Financial Center, with official delegations taking part from 140 nations. This year’s edition is held under the theme “International Investment, the Path to Competitiveness and Development”, and discuses developing international investment with a focus on Foreign Direct Investors (FDI) .

Sharjah Chamber showcased at the dedicated pavilion for government departments and authorities and free zones and in collaboration with the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) the most important services it provides to its clients and the business community in Sharjah, as part of its role to enhance economic establishments and attract foreign investment to the emirate.

Khaled bin Butti Al Hajeri, Director General, stressed that “taking part in this event provides a perfect opportunity to meet regional and international establishments and chambers of commerce, enhance ties with them and benefit from them to support the business community and the private sector in Sharjah emirate.”

Al Hajeri added: “This participation comes within Sharjah Chamber’s work plan for 2017 that focuses on attending regional and international events to build cooperation and partnerships with new entities and sign MoUs with prestigious international establishments, exchange information and expertise with them, and promote the outstanding environment for investment and the huge abundant opportunities in the emirate and promote the services that the Chamber provides to the business community, in addition to exploring means for cooperation in training and development, to elevate the efficiency of staff and workers at the Chamber and the private sector in Sharjah emirate.”

HE Abdullah Sultan Al Oweis, Chairman of the Board, accompanied by HE Abdullah Duaifis, board member, and Khaled bin Butti Al Hajeri, Director General, held a number of meetings with head delegates and met Mrs. Hiba Salmah, CEO of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), a commercial organization comprising 19 countries that aims to achieve cooperation and development in economic activities and especially in the fields of industry, energy, transportation, communication and wireless communication, and developing commercial and investment relations between countries within a frame of economic development of the African continent, as his excellency discussed with her means of developing and enhancing cooperation between them for the common good, opening new horizons for Emirati businessmen to invest in COMESA countries and attract businessmen and investors from those countries to invest in the emirate. 

The two parties agreed that Sharjah Chamber will take part a meeting dedicated to encouraging economic investment in Africa to be held by COMESA in Sharm Al Sheikh, Egypt from 7 – 9 December later this year.

Khaled bin Butti Al Hajeri said: “This meeting reflects our keenness to achieve common goals in enhancing frameworks of cooperation to widen the scope of enterprises and utilize available resources to achieve sustainable economic development by broadening and developing the base for investment to include all COMESA countries and their promising markets and present huge opportunities to Emirati businessmen with various investment essentials, and he stressed the Chamber’s commitment to providing all facilities and services to set up a comprehensive work plan for communication between the local private sector’s activities and their counterparts in COMESA countries to achieve more growth and mutual investment in the medium and long runs.   

Bin Butti said our participation in the investment meeting due to take place in Egypt will give us the opportunity to meet ministers of COMESA countries to explore investment partnerships in transportation, agriculture, industry and construction, and will provide a perfect medium for Emirati businessmen and investors to learn about investment and resources available in COMESA countries with their strategic location as a vital portal for utilizing human and natural resources in those countries, which will have a positive effect on enhancing the UAE’s and Sharjah’s status as regional and international hubs for business and investment. 

Sharjah Chamber’s delegation,  headed by Abdullah Sultan Al Oweis, also met HE Ali Ukline, head of the Turkish delegation taking part in this event, and the two sides discussed means to increase commercial activities between Sharjah and Turkey and double the participation in economic events and exhibitions held in the two countries. The two sides discussed developing relations between the business sectors in the two countries that have seen exponential growth in recent years, and create and develop new initiatives and work programs for the coming stages to fulfil the ambitions of businessmen in both countries. 

Sharjah Chamber’s delegation continues to hold more meetings with different participating delegations to achieve its aims to attract more capital and investment to the emirate, enhance Sharjah’s position as a preferred destination for investment for companies and regional and international business sectors, and positively and effectively contribute to developing the UAE’s economy as a whole.  

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry has successfully concluded its participation in the Sixth International Government Communication Forum, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.

Sharjah Chamber’s participation as an official sponsor and strategic partner of the forum, organized by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau under the theme “Societal Participation…Comprehensive Development”, supports the forum in showcasing Sharjah’s UAE’s efforts  in conforming with the participles and goals of sustainable development.

The Chamber displayed the most important services its provides its clients and the business community with at its platform in the exhibition accompanying the forum, as part of its efforts to enhance the role being played by the economic entities in driving the wheels of sustainable development, encouraging practices that are environmentally friendly, and developing the responsibilities of the private sector towards society.

The Chamber also showed visitors the electronic services it provides for its clients through its website and social media and smart applications to facilitate procedures, as part of Sharjah government’s electronic services that are aimed at improving the quality and form of services, flexibility, and methods of providing information and references, to achieve the highest standards of international quality.

A work team from the Chamber’s media department took part in the relevant activities, seminars and workshops of the forum, to learn from experts and get to know their vision to enhance government communication’s contribution to achieving sustainable development and economy, the spread of social media and fast development in communication technologies, which supports the Chamber’s vision to become a driving force for sustainable economic development for all business, commercial and industrial activities in Sharjah and become a hub for providing the best services to its clients.  

Khaled bin Butti Al Hajeri, Sharjah Chamber’s Director General, stressed that the International Government Communication Forum has become an annual meeting event crucial to the relevant bodies in government communication  in Sharjah, the UAE and the region, introducing new blood to government media establishments, and bringing to the fore core issues at the top priorities of individuals and Emirati society, helping establish a balanced relationship between officials and the media and the public.

Al Hajeri said that government communication plays a strategic role in supporting UAE Vision 2021 and government policy: this Forum has become an event that is anticipated by media and government establishments and experts in particular, in order to find discover the latest technologies of the industry and corporate culture around the world in. This will ensure achieving government communication strategies in Sharjah and the UAE. 

The 4th Middle East Investment and Real Estate Exhibition and Conference Acres Middle East 2017, held at Expo Sharjah, saw in its conclusion a large number of commercial deals being signed thanks to the diversity of investment opportunities and financial facilities provided by local and international establishments taking part in this event.

The exhibition, held under the patronage of H.H Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad bin Sultan the Al Qassimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, and organized by Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, SCCI, and Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department, in collaboration with the SCCI’s Real Estate Sector Working Group, saw huge attendance by businessmen, investors, real estate developers and individuals, who praised the promising opportunities afforded by Sharjah  in real estate and investment. 

Visitors as well as exhibitors praised the high level of organization of the exhibition, projects and services offered, and pointed out the high credibility of real estate products offered by exhibitors over 3 days, and the diversity of those products that gave visitors and investors numerous choices for their needs.

More than 45 local and international specialist companies in real estate development and investment took part and sought to make use of Sharjah’s status as an outstanding destination for investment and a regional commercial hub, especially with its flexible legislations, incentive packages and facilities. Visitors included Sheikh Salem bin Abdulrahman Al Qassimi, Head of the Office of Sharjah Ruler, accompanied by Abudullah Sultan Al Oweis, Chairman of Sharjah Chamber, who toured the different pavilions and met exhibitors and CEOs, and praised the exhibition’s organization. 

Sheikh Salem bin Abdulrahman Al Qassimi emphasized the importance of organizing such real estate exhibitions in Sharjah, pushing the real estate sector further ahead, increasing its activities and putting the spot light on the huge growth in real estate in the emirate, one the most effective sectors in the UAE. For his part Khaled bin Butti Al Hajeri, Director General of Sharjah Chamber, thanked Expo Centre for its efforts in supporting the exhibition.

Al Hajeri further thanked Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department and SCCI’s Real Estate Sector Working Group, and all entities that worked to make the exhibition a success, stressing that it has become a model platform for companies to showcase their new projects, and a unique opportunity for investors and individuals to test the reality of the market for real estate and attractive financing.

Al Hajeri emphasized Sharjah Chamber’s keenness to continue to support Acres exhibition, which has become one the most important economic events to take place at Expo Centre over the year, eagerly awaited by stakeholders of the sector. 

In the closing ceremony Al Hajeri and Mohammad Ahmed Amin, Director General Assistant for Communication and Business Sector of Sharjah Chamber, and Saeed Ghanim Al Suwaidi, Head of SCCI’s Real Estate Sector Working Group, honored all companies, local, Arab and regional, that participated in Acres 2017, and gave them certificates of appreciation, for their effective participation in the fourth edition of this exhibition.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry received yesterday a delegation from Italy that comprised a select group of journalists who represent big Italian newspapers and magazines and television stations, which visited the Chamber to view its role, work and vision.

The delegation, which is visiting Sharjah at the invitation of Sharjah government, was received by Khaled bin Butti Al Hajeri, Director General, who welcomed the delegation and presented a detailed illustration of the Chamber’s role and vision, as a driving force for commercial and industrial development in Sharjah. 

The delegation toured the Chamber’s different facilities in Al Hajeri’s company, who recalled the Chamber’s history, management, branches, activities and services provided for its members, highlighting its endeavor to contribute to Sharjah’s pioneering economic status as a regional hub for global trade, which in turn supports the UAE’s efforts to sustain its economic position globally and enhances its ability to attract investment. 

Sharjah Chamber’s Director General expressed his gratitude to Sharjah government for organizing this visit that promotes the emirate and supports the Chamber’s efforts in representing its members’ interests, by opening the doors to communication and cooperation with the relevant entities outside the country and develop commercial relations continually, thereby achieving prosperity and competition in the global market, in addition to enhancing commerce in the emirate.

Al Hajeri said that Sharjah works hard in line with the directives of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and the close follow-up of HH Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, to make Sharjah an inspiring global model for business and prosperous living.

He added that Sharjah has become an excellent destination for foreign investment and a major commercial axis in the region, utilizing its strategic location between east and west and overlooking the Arabian Gulf and the Indian Ocean, which helped it qualify as a transit gate for about 160 countries and more than a billion people, in addition to being an economic force in itself, contributing about a third of the earnings of the  transformative industries sector, as well as its importance as a prosperous cultural and tourist destination. 

Al Hajeri emphasized the important role being played by the media in projecting a realistic impression of the huge achievements made by Sharjah in recent years, contributing to efforts made to market  the emirate for investment.

Al Hajeri pointed out the Chamber’s willingness to provide all means of cooperation with media delegations from around the world, confident in the noble mission of the media to put the spot light on Sharjah’s advantages locally and globally.

For his part the Italian delegation expressed their admiration with what they saw of development that has reached all fields and sectors, not least in Sharjah Chamber, which will feature positively in their reports on the emirate after they return to their homeland.

The Italian delegation’s visit was initiated by an invitation by Sharjah government, to introduce them to the tourist and iconic places of heritage and culture, and its attractive facilities for commerce and investment. 

Expo Centre Sharjah has been awarded the Integrated Quality, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety Management System by Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance, after proving its compliance with international standards in its internal operation systems. This award is regarded as a certificate of compliance with international standards of quality (ISO 9001) environment management system (ISO 14001) and Safety management (18001).

Abdullah Al Oweis, Chairman of Sharjah Chamber, and Seif Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre and Chairman of the Arab Union for International Exhibitions and Conferences, received the ISO Certificate for the integrated system from Basem Obaid, Director of Lloyds Register Quality Assurance company, in a ceremony held recently at Sharjah Chamber. Al Oweis stressed that this award confirms the Center’s compliance with the highest international standards and specifications, and expressed his gratitude to Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, for his wise directives and boundless support for the Centre, and to HH Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, for his close follow-up of the Centre’s development. 

Al Oweis stressed that Sharjah Chamber supports Expo Centre to keep its position in the lead of regional commercial and cultural exhibitions, and a permanent premises for conferences in the region, which enhances Sharjah’s status in the international exhibitions industry.

Seif Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre, expressed his pride in being awarded this international certificate and said that the Centre this year celebrates its 40^th anniversary, and proves year after year its leadership in organizing exhibitions and conferences in the Mena region. For his part, Basem Obaid, Director of Lloyd’s Assurance, confirmed that the center has been awarded the three certificates after a process of auditing and evaluation undertaking by Lloyd’s that comprises all of its systems and procedures as practiced.  

A Delegation from Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently visited the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology in order to enhance cooperation with its partners and serve its members, enhance the business environment and advance the economic sector’s performance in Sharjah.

The Chamber’s delegation, headed by Yaqoub Al Qaseer, Industrial Relations Consultant, and Samuel Lalul, head of the industrial sector’s business group at the Chamber, and Maha Al Zarouni, Exporters Services executive, discussed a number of issues of mutual interest and viewed programs and projects undertaken by the Authority for Standardization for creating and implementing standardizations and trademarks, and their effect on improving and developing the private sector’s performance in the UAE and its consequences on the business community in Sharjah. 

The Chamber’s delegation discussed opportunities for developing cooperation between the two sides and providing facilities and assistance for tradesmen and manufacturers to apply standardizations approved by the Authority. Abdulrahman Zeinel, Head of inspection at the Authority, acquainted the delegation with the Emirates Quality Products Mark system (EQM) and the Gulf certification requirements system (Gmark), in addition to Emirati Certification (ACAS), mandatory procedures for obtaining these certificates, and the important role they play in enhancing the UAE’s economic and commercial role.  

The two sides agreed to enhance their partnership in spreading awareness and holding forums and training workshops, such as the workshop for merchants and manufacturers in Sharjah on (ECAS) and (EQM) to be held soon, in addition to other workshops for used imported vehicles, which Sharjah Chamber will set time for in the near future after consultations with the concerned parties. 

Yaqoub Al Qaseer thanked the Emirates Authority for Standardization for their efforts in supporting the business sector in the UAE by providing standardizations on par with the best international practices, and pointed out that this visit comes within the Chamber’s Business and Communication Sector’s plan to communicate with its partners in the government and private sectors, learn from their experiences and expertise to support merchants and manufacturers and enhance their contribution to the gross domestic product of the emirate.  

His Excellency Abdullah Al Oweis, Chairman of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, praised the strong economic and commercial relations between the United Arab Emirates and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and the attention given by the leadership of both countries to developing their different sectors and enhancing mutual work and serving the business community in both countries.

This came during the meeting for consultation held recently by businessmen from Sharjah and Jordan at Sharjah Chamber’s headquarters, with the participation of a Jordanian delegation from the Jordan Chamber of Commerce, and from the Emirati side Sheikh Majid bin Faisal Al Qassimi, First Deputy of Chairman of Sharjah Chamber, HE Waleed Abdulrahman Bu Khatir, Second Deputy of the Chairman and members of the board of Sharjah Chamber. 

The meeting started with a tour of the permanent exhibition of local industrial products that showcases more than 100 products chosen from 2200 factories based in Sharjah, during which the visiting delegation was briefed on the most important services provided by Sharjah Chamber to facilitate the business sector’s activities.

The two sides discussed developing economic and commercial relations between Sharjah and Jordan and enhancing trade between them and entering into beneficial partnerships in the vital sectors, and viewed the huge achievements made, and enhancing them with new projects in a good environment for investment, with advanced infrastructures, a system of modern economic legislations, and opportunities for investment in various sectors.

The two sides urged the exchange of commercial information and laws and regulations governing investment, and organizing exhibitions and economic events, taking advantage of the outstanding services provided by Expo Centre Sharjah for introducing Jordanian industrial products.

The two sides discussed establishing and organizing the “Jordanian Week in Sharjah” to encompass cultural, economic and commercial events, and showing Jordanian industrial products to introduce them to Emiratis and residents of Sharjah, and show the huge development achieved by the  Jordanian industries in the past few years.

The two sides called for intensifying visits by commercial delegations, activating cooperation agreements and trade, and increasing coordination between Sharjah Chamber and Jordan Chamber of Commerce to show the business sector in Sharjah the huge opportunities for investment in Jordan by organizing events.

The meeting showed a film about Sharjah and development achieved economically, commercially, culturally and in tourism and real estate.

HE Abdullah Al Oweis stressed during the meeting that Sharjah provides huge facilities for Jordanian businessmen who wish to invest in Sharjah as an outstanding destination for investment for its diverse economy, stability, distinct geographical location, legislation and regulations, government facilities, free zones, modern ports and promising opportunities for investment. 

His Excellency praised the Jordanian community in Sharjah’s workforce as highly qualified and trained, in addition to Jordanian businessmen who run their businesses in Sharjah, taking advantage of a wide array of facilities provided for the business sector, and he stressed the importance of participation by Jordanian businessmen in the coming economic events to be hosted by Sharjah and opening new horizons for them, including Expo Centre Sharjah.

For his part HE Ghassan Kharfan, First Deputy for the Chairman of Jordan Chamber of Commerce, expressed his gratitude for Sharjah Chamber for the warm welcome, and praised the vital role played by the UAE in supporting the economy of Jordan through many large projects it carries out in Jordan.

HE Ghassan Kharfan spoke in detail about the economy in Jordan and the comprehensive reform it’s going through to enhance competition, which has created a good quality environment for all sectors including the industrial and the banking sectors, which has had a huge effect on the Jordanian economy, and he called on businessmen in Sharjah to take advantage of the huge opportunities for investment in the Jordanian market and the incentives provided for Emirati investors. 

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry held a retreat for its staff under the banner “Retreat of Goodness” that was aimed at encouraging creative ideas and suggestions, and putting in place a work map for the Chamber to put into effect the Year of Goodness called for by His Highness Sheikh Khalifah bin Zayed Al Nahayan, President of the UAE. Sharjah Chamber is keen to launch initiatives that instill these principals in society, and motivate events held by the business community in Sharjah for charity work, partnership and collaboration to serve the homeland in all fields.

The Retreat was attended by HE Khaled bin Butti Al Hajeri, Director General, Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Director of the Economic Relations and Marketing Department, Jamal Bu Zinjal, Director of the Media Department, Muna Al Suwaidi, member of the local committee of the Year of Giving 2017 in Sharjah and more directors, section heads and staff at the Chamber.

Khaled Al Hajeri said that organizing the retreat came in line with designating 2017 as the Year of Giving in the UAE  by His Highness the President, and initiates interaction with the local community for the Year of Giving in Sharjah, in which the Chamber is a member. 

His Excellency said: “the Goodness Retreat aims to showcase the Chamber’s role and pioneering role in charitable work and initiatives, volunteerism and humanitarian work within a frame work of social responsibility, and this retreat motivates and encourages staff to bring forth their suggestions that support this role in order to benefit from the year of giving, in cooperation and coordination with the local committee authorized to transform it into events in the near future and embodies Sharjah Chamber’s interaction with this initiative to serve society. 

The Hotel Apartment Business Group that works under the umbrella of Sharjah Chamber researched a number of steps and procedures that aim to activate the performance of hotel apartments and their contribution to tourism growth in the emirate, including stimulating cooperation with government entities in Sharjah, conducting field visits to mitigate obstacles being faced by the hotel apartment sector, and organizing training courses to improve performance and effectiveness in collaboration with Sharjah Chamber. 

Decisions and recommendations were made during a meeting recently held by the business group in Sharjah Chamber’s headquarters, whereby participants agreed on the vital role being played by the hotel apartment sector in accommodating the tourist influx into the emirate as the a perfect destination for overnight and longer stays for tourists coming from the other emirates,  thanks to Sharjah’s strategic location and the availability of family tourism and tourist and cultural facilities. 

Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Director of the Economic Relations Department at Sharjah Chamber, said: “Sharjah Chamber is keen to reinforce strategic partnerships between the private and government sectors, and aims to raise the level of the private sector’s performance by overcoming obstacles and facilitating its operations and enhancing its competitive edge.”

Al Jarwan pointed out that the tourism sector in Sharjah is one of the major contributors to the emirate’s versatile economy, thanks to the wise leadership of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, as the increasing number of hotel apartments in Sharjah draws more tourists to the emirate that enjoys the essentials that attract regional, global and local tourism.

Al Jarwan expressed Sharjah Chamber’s keenness to support this vital sector and increase coordination with it to achieve mutual goals, and stressed Sharjah Chamber’s mission to provide support to all sectors that play a major role in  growth and development.

For his part Khaled bin Kuweir, Head of the Hotel Apartment Business Group, said that the meeting confirmed the importance of innovation in supporting this sector, and participants approved of a number of recommendations that are expected to contribute to achieving the sector’s goals, and he explained that the group is  going to launch a training program in collaboration with Sharjah Chamber that targets all players in this sector, to discuss these courses’ relevance to the needs and requirements of the sector through field visits.

Khaled bin Kuweir stressed that cooperation with government entities in Sharjah is vital due to the nature of the existing partnership between the private and public sectors, and he pointed out that the group is going to coordinate cooperation with a number of government directorates such as Shurooq - Sharjah Investment & Development Authority, the Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority, Expo Centre Sharjah and Sharjah Museums, and visits will be made to  discuss  ways to improve mutual cooperation. 

Khaled Al Kuweir said: “We have agreed to distribute promotional print material on the most remarkable tourist locations in Sharjah to hotel apartments, and this promotional material must include vital information, photos, data and  information on events that concern each location. We are determined to provide all components that support the growth and development of the tourism sector of Sharjah so that we become an effective player in this distinguished march.”

The Hotel Apartment Business Group that works under the umbrella of Sharjah Chamber researched a number of steps and procedures that aim to activate the performance of hotel apartments and their contribution to tourism growth in the emirate, including stimulating cooperation with government entities in Sharjah, conducting field visits to mitigate obstacles being faced by the hotel apartment sector, and organizing training courses to improve performance and effectiveness in collaboration with Sharjah Chamber. 

Decisions and recommendations were made during a meeting recently held by the business group in Sharjah Chamber’s headquarters, whereby participants agreed on the vital role being played by the hotel apartment sector in accommodating the tourist influx into the emirate as the a perfect destination for overnight and longer stays for tourists coming from the other emirates,  thanks to Sharjah’s strategic location and the availability of family tourism and tourist and cultural facilities. 

Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Director of the Economic Relations Department at Sharjah Chamber, said: “Sharjah Chamber is keen to reinforce strategic partnerships between the private and government sectors, and aims to raise the level of the private sector’s performance by overcoming obstacles and facilitating its operations and enhancing its competitive edge.”

Al Jarwan pointed out that the tourism sector in Sharjah is one of the major contributors to the emirate’s versatile economy, thanks to the wise leadership of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, as the increasing number of hotel apartments in Sharjah draws more tourists to the emirate that enjoys the essentials that attract regional, global and local tourism.

Al Jarwan expressed Sharjah Chamber’s keenness to support this vital sector and increase coordination with it to achieve mutual goals, and stressed Sharjah Chamber’s mission to provide support to all sectors that play a major role in  growth and development.

For his part Khaled bin Kuweir, Head of the Hotel Apartment Business Group, said that the meeting confirmed the importance of innovation in supporting this sector, and participants approved of a number of recommendations that are expected to contribute to achieving the sector’s goals, and he explained that the group is  going to launch a training program in collaboration with Sharjah Chamber that targets all players in this sector, to discuss these courses’ relevance to the needs and requirements of the sector through field visits.

Khaled bin Kuweir stressed that cooperation with government entities in Sharjah is vital due to the nature of the existing partnership between the private and public sectors, and he pointed out that the group is going to coordinate cooperation with a number of government directorates such as Shurooq - Sharjah Investment & Development Authority, the Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority, Expo Centre Sharjah and Sharjah Museums, and visits will be made to  discuss  ways to improve mutual cooperation. 

Khaled Al Kuweir said: “We have agreed to distribute promotional print material on the most remarkable tourist locations in Sharjah to hotel apartments, and this promotional material must include vital information, photos, data and  information on events that concern each location. We are determined to provide all components that support the growth and development of the tourism sector of Sharjah so that we become an effective player in this distinguished march.”

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) discussed ways to bolster economic and commercial ties between Sharjah and Kuwait honoring Kuwaiti Diplomatic Mission, with the diplomatic mission of the State of Kuwait in the UAE, and the Kuwait Business Council in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. The meeting weighed up on topics that promote the interests of the business communities in Kuwait and the UAE.

In the presence of HE Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI, the discussions were held during a business breakfast organized by SCCI in Sharjah in honor of HE Diab Farhan Al-Rashidi, Consul-General of Kuwait in Dubai, as part of SCCI’s official business breakfasts initiative launched last January with the aim of consolidating its business relations with foreign diplomatic missions and business councils operating in the country.

The meeting focused on ways of enhancing the role of commercial delegations, expanding the talks regarding export and the economy in general and forming a joint committee between the SCCI and Kuwait Business Council in Dubai.

High-level attendees included a number of SCCI’s Board Members; HE Khalid bin Butti Al Hajri, Director General of SCCI; senior officials from the Kuwaiti diplomatic mission to the UAE; and Saad Rubaiaan, Chairman of the Kuwait Business Council in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.

HE Al Owais praised the deep-rooted, brotherly relations Kuwait and the UAE enjoy on all levels, stating that SCCI has always been keen on consolidating cooperation, communication, business ties and bilateral investment projects between Emirati and Kuwaiti businessmen. Al Owais also invited the business communities of Sharjah and Kuwait to benefit from the available investment opportunities the two countries offer, as well as the official support, facilities and advantages provided by both sides, as they seek to encourage investment and consolidate their historic ties.

HE Al-Rashidi explained that the economic relationship between Kuwait and the UAE is going ever-more strong, underpinned by the deep social and brotherly ties that date back to the pre-oil-discovery era.

HE The Consul-General and members of the diplomatic mission were invited to the Diplomats Tour initiative organized by Department of International Affairs at SCCI, in cooperation with Sharjah’s local government authorities, for foreign diplomats based in the UAE and their spouses to highlight the emirate’s achievements and development in all fields, as well as its cultural, historical and tourist landmarks. The initiative is an endeavor by SCCI to strengthen its relations with foreign diplomatic, consular and commercial representatives in the UAE as a way of boosting the levels of economic cooperation and benefiting the local business community.

During the meeting, the two sides also discussed the possibility of organizing joint, specialized conferences with the Kuwaiti chambers of commerce and industry spanning the fields of information and communications technology (ICT), new and renewable energy resources and other areas of interest.

The total value of exporting and re-exporting between Sharjah and Kuwait reached AED 1.560 billion during 2016, as per the certificates of origin, issued by SCCI.

A Delegation from the Economic Relations Department at Sharjah Chamber visited Global Food Industries in Sharjah, considered part of Al Batha Consumer Group, considered as part of Al Batha Group for Consumer Merchandise that is owned by Al Batha Group,

whereby the two sides discussed a number of issues related to food.

The Chamber said its visit to Global is aimed at getting to view the  company, its plans to spread globally, getting to know its plans for the future and enhancing its exports to targeted markets, as Global represents trade marks in addition to trade marks for manufacturing and distributing locally, and it enjoys reaching all corners of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, north Africa, the Asian sub-continent and Europe.

The Chamber’s delegation included Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Director of Economic Relations department, and Amjad Awad Al Kareem, Section Head of Business Groups at the Chamber, who were received by Taher Jameel Khan, Head of Export at Global.

Al Jarwan stressed that Emirati products have achieved high levels of quality and can compete globally, and he pointed out that Sharjah emirate has become a platform for launching investment in the food industry regionally and globally, thanks to its competitive edge, infrastructure and advanced logistics.

Al Jarwan asserted that the food industries have become an incentive for the industrial sector in the emirate and contribute to providing the local markets with foodstuffs, in addition to its considerable contribution to achieving food security in the country. 

Al Jarwan said visiting Global came within a program of periodic field visits organized by the Department of Economic Relations to private sector entities operating in the emirate that aims to enhance constant communication with the business community and seeing the reality of the local economic and industrial sectors, and exchange points of view. 

Al Jarwan added that the Chamber’s delegation discussed issues relevant to both sides, and showcased the Chamber’s services and business groups including the food industry group that works under the Chamber’s umbrella, and he reasserted the Chamber’s keenness to listen carefully to businessmen, investors and entrepreneurs on economic issues, which contributes to serving them better and providing them with the best support.

Al Jarwan praised the quality of the company’s products and compliance with international standards on food safety, and expressed the Chamber’s willingness to open new markets for its products through the different promotional activities it organizes, and he called on companies from the private sector to make use of the Chamber’s initiatives and programs that aim to improve their performance and the quality of services and products, and enhance their spread to the global markets.

On his part Taher Khan Jameel, Head of Export at Global, expressed his gratitude to Sharjah Chamber and to the visiting delegation for the Chamber’s support and follow up of the private sector in the emirate and its keenness to develop its operations and support national products and spread globally.

Khan asserted that the Chamber’s visits serves the economy of the emirate and especially the private sector, by finding ways for support and cooperation, collecting information and data and preparing statistics, serving the business community and pushing towards feasible economic projects.

Studies indicate that the total value of the activities of the different food industries in the UAE may reach around 61.2 billion Dirhams by 2018, under the sustained level of  activity of the food industry sector in the country and increasing production, consumption and export, as the food industries have taken the largest percentage of investment in the industrial sector, valued at approximately 44 billion Dirhams, making the UAE a regional and a global hub for food production

Spring Bazaar 2017 event, organized by Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry at Expo Centre Sharjah and held for 4 days, in cooperation with Blue Light company for organizing exhibitions, came to a close yesterday Sunday, as part of Sharjah Spring Promotions. 

The Bazaar was aimed at Sharjah emirate’s visitors including nationals, residents and tourists from the different cities and provinces of the emirate, and was opened by His Excellency Waleed Bu Khatir, Second Deputy of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Chairman of the Board, and was attended by Her Excellency Raghdah Taryam, board member, HE Mohammad Rashid bin Deemas, board member, Ibrahim Rashid Al Jarwan, Director  of the Economic Relations Department at the Chamber and General Coordinator of Sharjah Spring Promotions, Hana Al Suwaidi, Head of Economic Promotion Section at the Chamber, in addition to stakeholders, designers, Emirati talent and fashion and arts connoisseurs.

The Bazaar, launched on Thursday 2 February, saw honoring “Sharjah Media Center” and other entities and sponsors taking part, along with more than 70 exhibitors, all organized by Sharjah Chamber within “Sharjah Spring Promotions”.

HE Waleed Bu Khatir stressed Sharjah Chamber’s keenness to organize, support and sponsor economic events that are in harmony with its vision and mission and that stimulate commercial and industrial businesses, encouraging them to be successful, develop ad spread locally and internationally, and raise the national product to the highest levels of quality and innovation, and also enhance Sharjah emirate’s aspirations to achieve a sustainable development on all fronts.

HE Bu Khatir said: “Sharjah Spring Bazaar is one of many events organized by Sharjah Chamber over the course of the year in the different provinces of the emirate, to serve the local business community and especially entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises (SMEs),  as these events offer a great opportunity for these segments to develop their commercial relations, prosper and become competitive on a larger scale in the global market, in addition to enhancing commerce in the emirate to a higher level.”

For his part Ibrahim Rashid Al Jarwan, Director of the Economic Relations Department at Sharjah Chamber, expressed the Chamber’s gratitude to all government entities and economic partners and sponsors who contributed to making this Bazaar a success, and to all who are keen to cooperate with the Chamber to ensure the success of the other events that are being held as part of Sharjah Spring Promotions.

The exhibition included a show for “Abayat”, “Sheilat”, “Jallabiat”, perfumes, incense, candles, clothes and related accessories that attracted citizens, residents and tourists, in addition to a selection of fashions produced by famous Emirati designers who launched the latest Emirati and Gulf fashion trends.

The event featured a fashion show dedicated to Emirati and Gulf fashion designs of modern “Abayat” and “Sheilat” by prominent local designers, inspired by the Emirati and Gulf heritages and mixed the traditional with the modern characteristics. 

A number of exhibitors at the Bazaar expressed their gratitude to Sharjah Chamber and other sponsors for organizing and supporting the event, and stressed that it was an important commercial event for a wide range of the public and an attractive platform to exhibit national products and establish a rapport with the concerned tradesmen, designers and entrepreneurs.  

The Bazaar attracted ladies from several emirates and Gulf states, in addition to Arab women and tourists who love Emirati fashion and follow its latest designs and creations, as this Bazaar encourages the Emirati businesswomen of this sector to distinguish themselves in fashion and other accessories for  ladies that show the renewability of the Arab woman’s taste through presenting the latest fashion designs and the best labels for ladies in the UAE and the Gulf region.

His Excellency Khaled bin Butti Al Hajeri, Director General of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, discussed with Sikdar Badr Al Zaman , new Bangladeshi Consul General in the UAE, ways to develop relations between the Chamber and the Consulate, coinciding with the Consul General starting his duties in the UAE and gaining a close look at Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and what it provides for the business community in the emirate.

During a meeting held in Sharjah Chamber the two sides discussed strengthening economic ties and enhancing trade and commerce between Sharjah emirate and the Republic of Bangladesh, to serve the needs of  the business communities in both countries and enhance the chances for mutual investment. Khaled bin Butti stressed the Chamber’s keenness to develop economic relations between Sharjah and Bangladesh towards more growth and prosperity within a framework of strong friendship. 

Khaled bin Butti said this meeting comes within periodic meetings being held by the Chamber with ambassadors and consuls in the UAE, to attract investment and open the doors of all markets around the world for the local business community, to enhance developing non-oil sectors in the country and diversify sources of income to achieve a comprehensive economic renaissance and growth.

Khaled bin Butti expressed the Chamber’s willingness to provide all facilities to businessmen from Bangladesh who wish to enter into commercial partnerships with their counterparts in Sharjah for the good of the two countries.

Khaled  bin Butti gave a presentation on the most remarkable economic advantages of Sharjah emirate and the facilities provided for foreign investment through free zones and airports, in addition to an advanced infrastructure.

On his part Sikdar Badr Al Zaman, new Consul General of Bangladesh in the UAE, expressed his country’s keenness to enhance bi-lateral relations and stressed the importance of commercial activity between the Republish of Bangladesh and Sharjah and the means to develop cooperation and mutual trade and investment. 

During the meeting that was attended by Dr. Rafeeq Ahmed, Consultant of Commerce at the Consulate, and Omar Saleh Mohammed, Director of Business and International Relations Department at Sharjah Chamber, a number of practical steps to develop relations between the Consulate and the Chamber were reviewed, and between Emirati entrepreneurs with their counterparts in Bangladesh by increasing meetings and visits in the near future.

With the release of its first issue in 2017, Al Tijarah Magazine celebrates its 46^th year of outstanding coverage of important economic, commercial and social events that have taken place in Sharjah emirate and the UAE over the years.

Al Tijarah Magazine is one of the oldest monthly magazines specialized in economic affairs in the country and is published in English and Arabic as its first issue came out in 1971 in the early foundation of the federation,  considered then and still is one of the most important media forums for the public to hear the news on events and economic milestones of the UAE and particularly Sharjah emirate.

The magazine does not stop at covering economic news but covers the important social and cultural events taking place in the emirate, in addition to news and activities of Sharjah Chamber and its affiliates and partners. The magazine contributed to spreading awareness among the public by publishing research studies specializing in the economy, and helped get businessmen acquainted with numerous investment opportunities in the emirate, the divers exhibitions being held in Sharjah and beyond, in addition to covering events taking place at federations, chambers and the different local, regional, and global economic organizations and entities.

The Magazine also seeks to shed light on the most important issues that influence the local, regional and international economic arena through holding meetings with stake holders and officials, and works in line with the Chamber’s directives to support the local economic establishments and entrepreneurs by preparing specialist investigations on their establishments and providing comprehensive media coverage for their projects.

His Excellency Abdullah Sultan Al Oweis, Sharjah Chamber’s Chairman of the Board, expressed his pride in the big and continuous role being played by the magazine over the years in covering the most important economic and commercial events in the emirate, and spreading the Chamber’s message in enhancing sustainable development and marketing the huge investment opportunities in Sharjah emirate, and he emphasized that  celebrating the magazine’s 46^th year comes as the crowning of a journey of persistent hard work in media excellence that is in harmony with Sharjah emirate’s methodology in advancing excellence and creativity to ever wider horizons, in line with the vision of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member Ruler of Sharjah to achieve excellence and creativity in all work that we do in the economic, social and media fields. 

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) received H.E. Luis Guillermo Solis Rivera President of the Republic of Costa Rica accompanied by a senior official governmental delegation, where a high-profile meeting took place discussing various issues of mutual interest.

The meeting was attended by Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Government Relation in Sharjah, Sheikh Mohammed bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Director of Department of Statistics and Community Development (DSCD), H.E. Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Vice President of the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), Sheikh Majid bin Faisal Al Qasimi, First Deputy Chairman of SCCI, along with an array of senior government officials in Sharjah, and H.E. Khaled bin Butti Al Hajri Director General of SCCI, in addition to a number of senior officials in the Chamber.  

The meeting witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between SCCI and the Costa Rican National Agency for Export Promotion (PROCOMER).  This comes in line with both sides’ keenness to boosting cooperation, and commercial relations.

The Costa Rican delegation comprised of a number of senior government officials including Costa Rica’s Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Exterior Trade and Environment & Energy, in addition to heads and representatives of various economic and commercial entities in Costa Rica, among them chairman of Costa Rica PROCOMER and CEO of Exterior Exports Authority. 

During the meeting, Al Owais welcomed H.E. The President and the accompanying delegation, hailing such significant visit - the first of its kind by a head of state in Latin America to the Chamber. 

Al Owais said: “SCCI is proud to receive the Costa Rican President, a man of rich culture, historian, academic professor and the kind of character who cares about education, culture, history and heritage, who contributed significantly in his country economy’s prosperity and development.” 

Al Owais added: “It is my pleasure to convey the gratitude of the leadership of the Emirate of Sharjah and SCCI family.  You have been known for recognizing His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.  H.E. The President’s  visit to Sharjah stems from his impression of his highness’s academic and cultural reputation, in addition to his willingness to develop frameworks of cooperation between Sharjah and Costa Rica.”

SCCI Chairman considered Costa Rican President’s visit to the UAE as a positive outcome to H.H. Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation’s visit to the Republic of Costa Rica in February 2016, where talks were held to address bilateral relations and means to boost and develop them serving mutual interests between the two nations.  SCCI is keen to positively push forward, develop and consolidate such relations. 

Al Owais stressed such presidential visit reflects the good reputation of the Emirate of Sharjah and its economic status on the global level under the directives of HH Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah.

From his side, H.E. The President expressed his country’s sincere keenness to strengthen bilateral relations with the UAE, in general, and the Emirate of Sharjah, in specific, highlighting the successful economic vision and the prestigious cultural reputation of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. 

President Rivera indicated that the Costa Rican Delegation’s visit to SCCI aims at giving the business community in the emirate an idea about business and available investment opportunities in Costa Rica and consolidating relations between the business communities in both countries. 

The president talked about the features of the Costa Rican economy and the nature of his country’s foreign trade activities, hoping this visit will contribute in consolidating relations and exchange of investments between the two friendly nations. 

From his side, H.E. Khaled bin Butti Al Hajri Director General of SCCI said such historical meeting will establish a new and fruitful phase in economic, commercial and investment relations between Sharjah & Costa Rica, and open the door for businessmen and organizations, in both countries, to have a closer look on the business environment and mutual available cooperation and investment opportunities.

The MoU between SCCI and the Costa Rican PROCOMER, which was signed between the Chamber’s chairman and H.E. Alexander Mora Delgado Chairman of PROCOMER, stipulates the coordination between the concerned parties from both sides in exchanging published material and information on a continuous basis, toward economic activities and trade development, including international trade exhibitions taking place in Sharjah, boosts economic cooperation, bilateral trade and consolidates support services for visiting delegations, paving the way for successful results among commercial projects.  

The MoU calls for Emirati companies to participate annually in Costa Rica’s economic forums, and also welcoming commercial Costa Rican companies, which are involved in Business Technology Management (BTM), for buyers to participate in specialized and general exhibitions that are organized by SCCI.  This is in addition to coordinating with the concerned authorities and agencies for forums and conferences to exchange information, best practices in commercial activities for developing trade and investment between the Emirate of Sharjah and the UAE. 

Aluminum is considered Costa Rica’s major import from the UAE.  Meanwhile, Costa Rica has been recognized for hosting the biggest plant for hydroelectric energy in Central America with a production capacity of 305.5 megawatt, while the country’s total production of renewable energy reaches up to 2.5 gigawatt, according to recent revelations from the Abu Dhabi-based International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in ‘Masdar City’, where renewable energy sources meet 98% of demand on electricity in Costa Rica, according the Government-run Costa Rica Institute for Electricity

As part of its continuous efforts to support all segments of society and  execute its aims to enhance the concept of societal responsibility and achieve a promising future that is more effective for all inhabitants of Sharjah emirate, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has recently gifted a specially-equipped bus for the disabled to  the Khorfakkan Club for the Disabled in Sharjah Emirate.

In  a ceremony held in Sharjah Chamber’s headquarters His Excellency Abdullah Sultan Al Oweis, Chairman of the Board of Sharjah Chamber, presented the vehicle’s keys to HE Abdullrazzaq Bani Rasheed, Chairman of the Board of Khorfakkan Club for the Disabled, in the attendance of Sheikh Majjid Al Qassimi, First Deputy to the Chairman of Sharjah Chamber, HE Khaled bin Butti Al Hajeri, Director General of Sharjah Chamber, Mohammad Ahmed Amin, Director General Assistant for the Communication and Business Sector, Khalil Al Mansouri, Board Member of Khorfakkan Club and a number of the Chamber’s staff.

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with China Council for the Promotion of International Trade recently. The MOU, which aim to enhance Sharjah’s ties with international trade partners, will pave the way for a unique and mutually beneficial trade partnership between the two business communities.

Through the MoU signed with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade - Ningxia Sub-Council, SCCI seeks to establish a long term partnership, involving economic collaboration in various sectors.

It also covers experience and knowledge sharing between the two parties, via a series of seminars, workshops, and meet-ups, introducing high level professional training, and data exchange on commodities, demand and offer, in addition to encouraging members of each party to participate in exhibitions and forums organized by the other party.

The signing was attended by HE Khaled bin Butti Al Hajri, Director- General of SCCI, and Mohammed Ahmed Amin, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Business​​​. From the Chinese side, the signing was attended by Xie Zhongmei, Secretary General and Vice President of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade - Ningxia Sub-Council.

Commenting on the event, HE Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI, said that the “signing represents a step in the right direction for building strong and promising partnerships with international partners, in line with the directives graciously extended by HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohamed Al-Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, aiming at enhancing Sharjah’s position as a hub for international business.”

For his part, bin Butti said: “The new MoU with our Chinese partners today represent an important step in strengthening our ties with this international mega economy, which will ultimately serve the business community in Sharjah and open new investment horizons in new sectors, such as tourism, commerce, logistic services, and industry”. 

Xie Zhongmei, Secretary General and Vice President of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade - Ningxia Sub-Council, expressed her satisfaction with the new MoU and the prospected partnership between the two parties, commenting that such a partnership ushers a new era in trade and economic relations with Sharjah, an Emirate known for its attractive business and investment opportunities.

Zhongmei also invited SCCI to take part in the Chinese Arab Exhibition hosted in China next September, which represents a rich platform for collaboration between China and Arab states in all business sectors.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) reviewed investment opportunities in the Emirate with a high-profile economic delegation from China’s Shaanxi Province today. The delegation consisted of 18 businessmen headed by Li Xiaodong, Vice Chairman of Shaanxi Provincial Committee at the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.  

The Chinese delegation included first-time-in-Sharjah businessmen. The members of the visiting delegation showed a great interest in investing in Sharjah, utilizing it as a gateway for their business and expansion plans. These plans are driven by the prestigious position of Sharjah and the merits offered for foreign investors, and the lucrative opportunities available in various economic sectors. 

In his comment on the visit, H.E. Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI praised the bilateral economic relations between the business communities of the UAE and China. With more than 4,200 Chinese companies operating in the country, China is the top trade partner of the UAE. He stressed that the economic ties are based on solid foundations supported by strong pillars of political and economic relations between the two countries, which culminated in the successful visit of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to China recently.

Al Owais added that Sharjah is looking forward to attract more Chinese companies operating in various sectors. He also pointed out that Sharjah enjoys viable features that allow it to attract Chinese investment, and secure an ideal environment for their growth and development.

During his meeting with the visiting delegation, Mohammed Ahmad Amin, Assistant Director General for Communication and Business, highlighted the unique position of Sharjah as an ideal destination for attracting Chinese investment, and a key destination for all international investors willing to expand in the GCC markets in particular, and the Middle East in general.

During his opening speech, Amin reviewed a number of services and initiatives offered by the Chamber to the private sector. These services include facilitating business establishment, organization of specialized business meetings, provision of training and development, extending support for SMEs, and the issuance of certificates of origin. He emphasized, in this regard, the commitment of the Sharjah Chamber to supporting the Chinese delegation, and providing all their requirements needed to get to know the business environment in Sharjah, and to find the opportunities appropriate to their needs and requirements.

For his part, Li XiaoDong praised the benefits offered by Sharjah to the Chinese investors from Shaanxi province. He also asserted that Sharjah is a major business hub, as it possess competitive investment environment. He also explained that Sharjah is an ideal choice for the Chinese investors from Shaanxi Province, especially since many of the delegation members are visiting Sharjah for the first time.

XiaoDong commended the efforts and support Sharjah Chamber extended to the visiting delegation, and its keenness to provide all the required information and explanations, saying that the adequate offer of investment opportunities allowed members of the delegation to have a clear picture of the investment and its prerequisites. He expressed his desire to build on this visit to foster cooperation and coordination ties between the business communities in the Shaanxi Province and the Emirate of Sharjah.

Following the meeting, several bilateral meetings were held to discuss cooperation in a number of economic sectors and areas.

The number of Chinese companies, registered in SCCI, and operating in the emirate reached 433 companies, covering vital sectors, such contracting, retail, construction, electronics and other sectors. Currently, the value of Sharjah exports to China exceeded AED 44 million, while Sharjah re-exports to China reached AED 261 million throughout 2016.

The Representative Committee for the Hotel Apartments sector, working under the umbrella of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), discussed its 2017 Action Plan. The innovation-driven plan aims at developing this vital sector and consolidating the global position and reputation of the emirate as a world-class business and tourism destination.

The committee held its fourth regular meeting at SCCI’s headquarters in the presence of Khalid bin Kuwayer, Chairman of the Representative Committee; Lubna Al Khayal, Head of Research and Studies Department at SCCI; and Amjad Awad Al Karim, Head of the Working Groups at SCCI, as well as committee members. SCCI reviewed the results of a field study it had conducted based on the committee’s recommendations to gain more insight into the current developments in Sharjah’s Hotel Apartments sector, its investment opportunities and the challenges businessmen face in this regard.

HE Khalid bin Butti Al Hajri, Director General of SCCI, emphasized that SCCI has always been keen on supporting the Hotel Apartments sector being a key pillar for tourism and one of the main drivers of the emirate’s economy. HE also pointed out that the Representative Committee is a SCCI work group that plays a major role in developing Sharjah’s tourism sector.

Chairman of the Representative Committee stated that the 2017 Action Plan would consider the study’s results and recommendations to meet the expectations of hotel apartment owners to overcome the challenges they face and encourage businessmen to invest more in this sector.

Providing a comprehensive analysis of the study’s results, Lubna Al Khayal said: “The study surveyed the hotel and hospitality establishments in Sharjah and the results support the Hotel Apartments sectors’ promotional efforts, strengthens partnerships and cooperation with Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority and underlines the importance of organizing educational and familiarization workshops and training courses for the sector’s workers in cooperation with the related authorities as part of exchanging knowledge, expertise and best practices.”

Hotel apartment owners who participated in the study asked SCCI, being the official representative of Sharjah’s business sector, to continue its efforts aiming to overcome the challenges they face as it contributes to boosting the sector’s performance and services, which will have a positive impact on Sharjah’s economy. The hotel apartments’ owners expressed their wish that SCCI organize promotional campaigns with special focus on promising markets in the GCC, Asia, Europe and the Commonwealth Independent States.

Owners also reiterated the importance of participating in specialized travel and tourism exhibitions as they are directly related to the Hotel Apartments sector, whether inside or outside the UAE in countries such as Russia, Germany, Turkey, China and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This also includes the food industry trade shows.

Furthermore, the study conveyed hotel apartment owners’ call to adopt a bundle of innovative practices in the emirate like boosting support and promotional efforts for the tourism sector by launching a dedicated hotline, developing a collection of attractive summer events, increasing companies’ social responsibility activities and offering new facilities for exhibitions.

Others called for activating the use of all mass media forms, and publishing brochures that reflect the emirate’s tourism offering. They also called for gaining insight into the sector’s best practices and similar experiences, reviewing and participating in global hospitality events, and implementing them in Sharjah. They also stressed on the importance of highlighting the emirate’s culture and identity, in addition to inviting the Hotel Apartments sector to take part in local, regional and international exhibitions. These events must be held in cooperation with Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, recently hosted a training workshop on “PR and Socia lMedia for the Creative Entrepreneur” , in collaboration with the British expert Mrs. “Frances E. Jenkins”.

The workshop aimed at providing academic tips on how to deal with social network, as it is, nowadays, one of the crucial means of unimpeded communication with internet users. The training worksheet exposed internal and external analysis, goals and views via networks, as Sharjah Chamber seeks to maintain organizational reputation using outstanding business networking.

The seminar involved many critical components on Social Media monitoring. On top of it: strong PR-Social Media relation, which was meant to foster corporate reputation through digital PR as modern means. Also, it included an implementation of advanced strategy to meet spotted goals, as well as, situational analysis for identifying organizational needs and its stakeholders. It was set to find out how competitors use social networks, in order to build a feasible plan for an ultimate advantage.

HE Khalid Bin Butti Al Hajri Director General of the SCCI praised “The critical role of Social Networks in the corporate reputation which is prompt and direct tool for a reciprocity of thoughts, information and facts”. He added: “Skills development, sharing positive news stories and false news control are all pillars of different establishments seeking to strengthen their digital entity especially to stakeholders, and publics in general”,

On the other hand, Mariam Al Shamsi SCCI Assistant Director General for Logistics said: “the workshop is part of Sharjah Training and Development Center work-plan. It is a section of comprehensive training program designed and accredited by the Center to boost staff qualifications by providing them with academic and technical skills, also with necessary knowledge that help them to perform well.”

scci

The trade mission organized by the Sharjah Exports Development Centre, SEDC, affiliated to the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, SCCI, concluded "a three-day Sharjah-Kenya Business Forum" held in Nairobi, within the framework of an African tour that included the Republic of Uganda as the first leg last week.

This forum provides a perfect platform to foster even greater interaction of Sharjah business community with their local, regional, and international counterparts in Kenya to push the current bilateral relations to advanced levels, and further promote investment opportunities and business partnership between Sharjah and Kenya, which is the economic, logistic, and trade center in East and Central Africa.

The forum, presided by HE Abdullah Sultan Al Owais Chairman, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, comprised an array of official figures, business representatives and investors of both sides include; HE the deputy U.A.E ambassador to Kenya Mr. Hassan Issa Al-Husni, HE Mohammed Rashid bin Dimas SCCI Board Member, Nasser Mosbeh Al Tunaiji SCCI Board Member, Abdul Aziz Shattaf, Director of SEDC, Saif Mohamed Salim Alsuwaidi, Investment Promotion Manager at Shurooq, Mr. Moses Ikiara Managing Director, Kenya Investment Authority, Mr.  Kipprono Kittony(TBC)National Chairman, KNICC, and ambassador DENNIS AWORI the Kenya Private Sector Alliance Foundation Chairman, along with other representatives from the two countries, as well as 15 companies affiliated to Sharjah, representing a wide range of trade and industrial sectors such as food, clothes, wood and steel industries.

Under the directives of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, HE Abdullah Sultan Al Owais Chairman, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry initiated his speech to assert that Sharjah has established itself as a model in potential opportunities in economic and sustainable development hosting 33 per cent of the UAE’s manufacturing sector.

Al Owais said: "Sharjah-Nairobi business forum is a complement to last year two-leg trip to Kenya and Uganda, as part of its dedication to prove its formidable presence in the promising African markets. Moreover, the visit aimed at increasing economic and trade cooperation between the two countries".

He added: "We are here together to take such growth to more diversifications and higher levels. Sharjah’s GDP grew three times from previous levels during the past decade. Consequently, Sharjah witnessed a 3 per cent rise in the number of business licenses working in the emirate during the first half of 2016".

"Since the signing of the Agreement of Protecting & Encouraging Investment, trade volume has been growing between the UAE & Kenya reaching an amount of Dh148 million (US$ 312 million) for exports and Dh1.483 billion (US$ 403 million) for re-exports, making non-oil trade volume reaching Dh2.63 billion (US$ 715 million) during 2015," continued Al Owais.

He provided an overview of what the emirate offers and provides to investors such as a very conveniently central location among other emirates of the UAE, stability and security, motivating legislations and incentives offered by Sharjah along with an international airport with competitive haul itineraries, three deep-water ports, access to both seas; Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman – the gateway to the Indian Ocean, ecotourism, and exhibitions.    

Al Owais expreseed his pleasure to preside the delegation participating in "Kenya-Sharjah business forum" as the United Arab Emirates is celebrating its 45^th National Day which comes at the same time where two years ago, in November 2014, both the UAE & Kenya marked the signing of their Agreement of Protecting & Encouraging Investment.

Saif Mohamed Salim Alsuwaidi, Investment Promotion Manager at The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) said; “Our visit to Kenya, as part of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) delegation aims to promote investment opportunities in Sharjah and showcase the emirate’s outstanding array of benefits to Kenyan entrepreneurs and businesspersons. Kenya is a central hub for commerce and logistics for the east of the continent.”

“Sharjah’s investment sectors have numerous promising opportunities, particularly in the tourism & entertainment, healthcare, eco-tourism, transport & logistics, education, industry and real-estate sectors. A number of these sectors have established stable and long-term growth rates; others are seeking new investment to meet existing demand. One example is the healthcare sector, which provides only 50% of the services required to meet the actual demand – something that indicates the huge potential of this area,” he added.

“Shurooq will provide Kenyan investors with all the necessary information to explain the benefits of investing "with us and between us in Sharjah" and will address any queries they may have. We look forward to welcoming them to Sharjah at their convenience so that we can give them a personal tour of the emirate so that they can see its multitude of investment advantages first hand,” said Alsuwaidi.

Kenya's Major Partners

For Kenya, Mr. Moses Ikiara Managing Director, Kenya Investment Authority praised trade relationship with UAE being one of the key trading partners.

Mr. Ikiara called upon UAE businesses to venture into the Kenyan market and benefit from the existing and unfolding opportunities offered by the country to foreign investors as well utilizing the Tripartite Free Trade Area Agreement (TFTA) which comprises of three African economic entities under the umbrella of Southern African Development Community (SADC) and East African Community (EAC), as well as The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa ( COMESA) with a population of about 600 million.

"The Kenya Government is actively seeking to partner with investors in major infrastructure development projects including its mega project "LAPSSET", the transport corridor linking Kenya, South Sudan and Ethiopia as well as attracting investment in the energy, tourism, healthcare, and oil and gas sectors," Mr. Ikiara pointed out.

Mr. Kipprono Kittony(TBC)National Chairman, KNICC said: "Kenya has indeed become an increasingly important trading partner for the UAE. In 2015, Kenya exported commodities worth US$ 297 include: Tea, fruits, meat, and electrical apparatus while Kenya imported goods worth US$922. Imported goods include: petroleum oils, cement, plastics, copper, electrical machinery and apparatus and industrial equipment.

In 2015, Kenya ranked 5th as the largest African economy with a GDP of $61.4 billion, in addition, Kenya placed itself as the 6^th largest market in Africa in terms of population of 44.1 million during the same year.

On the sidelines of the Kenya-Sharjah business forum, bilateral meetings between businessmen from Kenya and the UAE have been conducted to showcase their services and products which attracted the Kenyan investors to buy or mediate to have these services and products into Kenya or even invite the UAE part to open new branches of their companies in Kenya. 

Marking the UAE National Day

On the sidelines of the forum, the UAE embassy in Kenya marked the UAE's 45^th National Day, where the delegation extended their thanks to HE Abdul Razak Mohamed Hadi, UAE Ambassador to Kenya for his efforts to facilitate their mission in Kenya.

Ambassador Hadi underscored the UAE's commitment to promote trade and economic development in East Africa in light of the country's ongoing efforts to provide Logistic infrastructure, and free zones to help African companies engage in the world trade through the UAE.

The last day of the forum witnessed the Sharjah's delegation visit to some industrial and commercial facilities in Nairobi to have a close look at their mechanism of work, services, location, and number of employees, as well as operation costs with the aim of considering the possibility of starting trade, industrial, agricultural ventures or even contributing to upgrading these facilities

His Excellency Abdullah Sultan Al Oweis, Chairman of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Board of Directors, stressed that the Second of December of every year is a time for the sons and daughters of the UAE to celebrate the historic and outstanding achievements that raise the country’s standing to the highest levels of advancement.

Al Oweis, in his speech on the occasion of the 45^th National Day of the UAE, celebrating the establishment of the United Arab Emirates by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahayan (may his soul rest in peace) and the founding fathers, said that this anniversary is becomes more dear to the heart of every Emirati day after day, and brings more pride as we approach 2021 that will fall on the year of the golden jubilee for establishing the union.

Al Oweis added that celebrating the national day honors the legacy of the founding fathers, expressing gratitude, appreciation and allegiance to our wise leadership, led by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahayan President of the UAE and his brothers Rulers of  the emirates.

Al Oweis continued: “the Second of December celebrates the bright future that is approaching, which has begun to take shape and bear its fruit, thanks to Allah Almighty, the wisdom of its leaders and the sacrifices of its sons and daughters, who are going to make the UAE one of the best countries around the world by 2021.”

Al Oweis concluded by saying: “Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry pledges its allegiance to the wise leadership and to continue its progress and double its efforts, and to remain worthy of the trust it’s invested with, and to perform its role to the best of its ability and contribute to keeping UAE’s flag high.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry celebrated this Monday the 45^th National Day on the anniversary of founding the United Arab Emirates by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahayan (May his soul rest in peace) and the founding fathers.

This celebration, organized by Sharjah Chamber, was held under the banner “Achievements of A Country and the People’s Pride”, with a string of celebrations witnessed in all emirates and cities, on this occasion that is dear to the hearts of every citizen and resident who are proud of the huge achievements made by the Emirates in all fields in the past 45 years in its blessed march.

The event started with staff and guests gathering at the Chamber’s lobby and then at its front yard, with flags and national emblems and logos that were approved by the high organizing committee for celebrating this National Day, as the Federal Police School played the National anthem; pictures were taken of the Chairman, members, officials and staff, and the activities continued with folklore and culture of heritage segments that reflected the spirit of the Emirati people and long history, including the unity march by the Chamber’s staff that set off to the heritage village, where the Chairman and the guests inaugurated it by touring its pavilions that showcased stands for handicrafts and projects for the productive families and authentic Emirati dishes.

The event included a tour of a photo exhibition titled “Milestones of 45 Years” that showcased photos of the Union’s progress and its most notable achievements in all fields made recent years. Then students from Majd Elementary School presented a delightful show on the amphitheater of the heritage village, and thereafter different segments were presented by folklore bands.

The activities were concluded by honoring staff working at the Chamber’s nursery for their great effort in caring for children, along with sponsors of the event, including Mohammad Hilal Group for perfumes, Mayla Group for International Trade and Sharjah’s local hotels.    

The event was attended by HH Abdullah Sultan Al Oweis, Sharjah Chamber’s Chairman of the Board, HH Waleed Bu Khatir, Second Deputy of the Chairman of the Board, members of the board, HH Khaled bin Butti Al Hajeri, Director General, HH Seif Mohammad Al Midfa, Executive Officer of Expo Centre Sharjah, Mohammad Ahmed Amin, Director General Assistant for Communication and Business Sector, Mariam Saif Al Shamsi, Director General Assistant For Human Resources, Ibrahim Rashid Al Jarwan, Director of Economic Relations, Chairman of the organizing committee of the event, in addition to guests form the public and the private sectors.   

A delegation from Sharjah’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) visited “Khas Oud and Perfume” store (KOP), one of Sharjah’s most prestigious and luxurious Arab perfume companies. The two sides discussed a number of issues, most notably, perfume manufacturing strategies, and ways to increase production levels.

The visit, organized by the Department of Economic Relations in SCCI, comes within the Chamber’s strategic cyclical framework, aimed at establishing partnerships and common interests, both internally and externally.

The SCCI delegation, consisting of Ibrahim Rashed Al Jarwan, Director of the Department of Economic Relations, Yaakoub Youssef Al-Qasir, Industrial Development Consultant, Hana Hammoud Al-Souwaidi, Department of Promotions, were received by Hajem Hmeish, Director of Finance, on behalf of the General Manager Abdullah Al-Sharif.

For his part, Al Jarwan said the visit aims to discuss way to increase production and export levels, manufacturing strategies, as well as mutual cooperation policies aimed at creating new promotional markets.

Al Jarwan also called on private sector companies to take advantage of the chamber’s activities, which include receiving business delegations visiting Sharjah from different countries of the world. He also called on businesses to take part in upcoming economic events and trade fairs organized by SCCI, locally and internationally.

The delegation also discussed ways of enhancing joint cooperation between the Chamber and KOP, as well as coordination strategies with government agencies, aimed at increasing investment opportunities and competitiveness within the market

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry has held a meeting with heads of groups of business sectors.  They discussed means for developing groups’ work and coming up with new mechanisms that would serve achieving targeted shared goals and consolidating all economic sectors in the Emirate of Sharjah to the highest standards.

H.E. Abdullah Sultan Al Owais Chairman of SCCI headed the meeting, with the attendance of H.E. Khalid Bin Butti Al Hajri Director General of the chamber, Mr. Mohammed Ahmed Amin Assistant Secretary for SCCI Director General for Communications & Business, held at the chamber’s headquarter, shedding light on the themes of the new work plan, currently underway, that aims at developing the performance of concerned groups within an ambitious and clear strategy.  In addition, they reviewed recent flow of work, where opinions and suggestions regarding sectors, were shared and discussed. 

Al Owais stressed the chamber’s keenness in continuous communications with representatives from the private sector for having a close look at the economic sectors in the emirate and sharing perspectives on various challenges, locally and internationally, where all potential opportunities to be spotted and invested in for boosting competitiveness.  This would come through launching initiatives that would represent a driving force toward commercial and industrial sustainable development, added Al Owais, who called on business communities and groups to coordinate among each other and share ideas serving investment and achieving the economic vision of the emirate and so the United Arab Emirates. 

From their side, heads of the business groups hailed SCCI’s dedicated efforts in boosting the business community in the emirate, through providing all sectors with all added-value information and services.  They comprised sectors, such as real estate, industry, shopping centers, hospitality, hotel apartments and used cars.  .  

The meeting emphasized the need for strengthening cooperation of all sectors with the chambers through activating their role as a focal point between government entities and their counterparts for the private sector.  They discussed setting a plan for field visits to the concerned parties in each group, in addition to conducting training, workshop sessions and forums that shed the light on the emirate’s various economic potentials

Sharjah Chamber 

Sharjah Book Fair

Sharjah’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) held an in-depth scientific seminar recently, which discussed a number of significant national and global economic issues. The gathering is part of a series of seminars and lectures held at the chamber that aims to address topical issues, through exploring the prospects of the economy - locally, regionally and internationally.

It also aims to contribute in the development of the business strategy of the chamber, as well as set the framework for the future in light of local and global economic changes.

For his part, HE Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI, said that the chamber is working tirelessly to expand, as well as improve the economic sectors. This comes within the framework of strategic preparations following the plunge in oil prices, through adopting a new policy of income sources.

HE said this can be achieved by raising the level of awareness among the business community, as well as creating an atmosphere of knowledge in regards to the latest transformations in the region, and ways on how to address them in an efficient manner.

Al Owais added that local sustainable economic growth can only be achieved through up to date monitoring of global economic developments, and accurate periodic analysis of issues related to global financial stability and growth.

HE also pointed out that the series of seminars, organized by the chamber; are an ideal platform for a deeper understanding of the economic realities. Al Owais also added that the meetings will also address ways on how to overcome challenges that arise on the global economy, that support the interests and growth of the business community.

The seminar, held at the SCCI headquarters, and presented by economist Dr. Walid Al-Wakil, discussed several topics, most notably the compatibility between microeconomic and macroeconomic branches. It also discussed the economic and financial policies set by the UAE’s Ministry of Finance, as well as terms related to the national budget, and monetary policies implemented by the Central Bank.

Al-Wakil also discussed the issues of inflation, extra budgetary funds and their impact on the economy, as well as public resources that are not included in the annual budget, and economic plans for the future – following the drop in oil prices

Marking the international month for breast cancer awareness, Sharjah’s Economic Excellence Network (shjSEEN), launched an art exhibition, dubbed “Pinktober”, today.  The innovative event, in line with international commemorations across the world every October, aims to increase attention and support for the awareness, early detection and treatment, as well as palliative care of this disease, mainly among the female community.    

The event saw the strong participation of major officials, with the opening ceremony attended by HE Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), as well as HE Khalid Bin Butti Al-Hajri, Director General of SCCI, along with Nada Al Hajri, General Coordinator of shjSEEN

The exhibition, set to run until November 3^rd, was also attended by a number of officials from the Chamber and the Network, as well as the public, who took part in the artistic and entertainment activities.

For His part, Al Owais vowed that SCCI along with ShjSEEN, will work tirelessly to improve the level of education of the disease, which according to Al Owais, will help spearhead the breast cancer awareness movement in the UAE. 

SCCI’s Chairman also assured that the chamber will continue to support awareness campaigns, through various channels.

Describing them as “Half of the Society”, Al Owais called on the female community to spare no effort in educating themselves over this alarming issue.

Al Owais also explained that the exhibition, organized by shjSEEN, also aims to highlight on humanitarian issues and preserve community values, through using various art techniques. HE also said the campaign is to raise awareness about the importance of regular and early screenings to help avoid the risks of breast cancer, describing early detection as the "corner stone" on the path to fight against the deadly disease.

Meanwhile, Nada Al-Hajri, said that in recent years, females across the UAE have become more aware about the importance of regular and early screening to help avoid the risks of breast cancer.

Al-Hajri continued, “Early diagnosis of the disease is essential, given it provides enough treatment time for the patient, and minimizes psychological and social burdens caused by the worsening of the illness and the complications that follow.”

During the opening ceremony, artistic paintings and Graffiti drawing were put on display, presented by the well-known and internationally recognized artist, Saeed Arjumand, along with Marian Al-Zoabi, Khalodiz, Dina Al-Saadoun, Dimitri Karbonov, who showcased their graffiti drawings - scribbled, scratched, or painted illicitly for the public.

Saeed Arjumand, who lost a family member due to breast cancer, highlighted his overwhelming delight to be part of this important event, adding that awareness of the disease is one of the most essential factors that contribute to combating and eradicating it. He also described the event as a “vital step” on the path to reducing the risks of breast cancer, and publicizing the importance of early detection.

Also, a charitable auction, selling art collectibles and antiques, will be held at the venue, with the participation of numerous fashion designers.

In addition, companies and institutions in support of the campaign will take part in the event, including: The Pink Caravan Campaign, Nivea, Zulekha Hospital, Velvet Magazine, Ghawa Gahwa, IGGI, Touk Al-Yasmeen Flowers & chocolates, 320 Natural Cosmetics, Jamba Juice, Ghanag Beauty Cener, SOH, and Cold Press Juice company.

In support of the campaign, the Chamber’s building lit pink. It also announced the launch of media awareness campaigns, through broadcasting messages and posts via the social media, in order to reach out to the largest number of females in the society, and spread the message.

Sharjah’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) announced “Al-Dhaid Date festival” is now an annual event, as it described the event as one of the most significant in terms of reinforcing the role of heritage in creating an honorable and promising future for the central region of the UAE.

The remarks were made during a ceremony held in the Cultural centre in Al-Dhaid town on Wednesday, where sponsors and organizers of the festival were honored, after taking part in the festival that was organized by the Chamber last July.

Praising the festival as a success, HE Abdullah Al Owais, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), said that the previous summer event saw the cooperation of the municipalities of the central region in the UAE. He also added that Chamber’s decision to make the festival an annual prominent event came in response to the public desire in doing so.

Furthermore, Al Owais also said that the chamber is keen on developing the activities of the annual festival, as he welcomed any support from the Chambers’ partners in the public and private sectors.

Chairman of SCCI also said the Chamber, whose doors remain open to the public, will continue to launch innovative initiatives, aimed at enhancing the business environment in all the cities of the UAE.

Also, Al Owais said such an endeavor ensures cultural development that celebrates heritage for generations to come, adding that the event is also to preserve the heritage and ancient history of the UAE. This, according to Al Owais, can take place by contributing to the revitalization of the economic life in the central region of Sharjah, most notably in town of Al-Dhaid.

HE continued, “On July 2016, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) took the initiative to organize the “Al-Dhaid Date Festival”, on the basis of enhancing the legacy, culture and history of the UAE”,

Moreover, Al Owais also said that the festival is a real opportunity for farmers to communicate and share their experiences, as well as allow farmers to broaden their horizons by their partnership with the business community.

SCCI’s Chairman also thanked all those who contributed in the success of the festival, most notably federal and local government agencies led by The Ministry of climate change and environment.

He also stated that the presence of HE Dr. Thani Bin Ahmed Zouaydi, Climate change and environment minister, in the opening ceremony of the first edition of the festival represented the innovative vision of the country’s leadership, that according to Al Owais is keen to support economic and investment activity in the UAE.

Al Owais also expressed his gratitude to what he described as “strategic partners, backers and sponsors of the chamber”, noting that the Chamber is looking forward to further cooperation and support of the business community in the upcoming session of the festival.

Voicing his concern on the need to preserve the country’s heritage, Al Owais also said that more effort is needed to promote farmers across the country, in order to encourage them to increase production and quality, which will lead to the development of the national food industry in a sustainable manner to the highest international standards.

At the beginning of the ceremony, a documentary film featuring the events of the first edition of the festival was screened, prepared by the Department of Corporate Communications and Public Relations at the Chamber.

During the event, SCCI honoured all strategic and participating partners

At an award event held in the Chamber’s HQ on Thursday, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) and Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD) honoured their employees, who were part of the successful electronic merging process between the two sides, which saw all transaction inquiries related to SCCI’s membership merged through one unified procedure for companies and businessmen interested in obtaining commercial registration in SEDD. 

During the event, H.E. Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI, and H.E. Sultan Abdullah bin Hadda Al Suwaidi, Chairman of Sharjah Economic Development Department, presented certificates of appreciation to the esteemed employees.

The recent merging operation comes in line with the overall ongoing digital transformation process that aim to facilitating and providing various channels to expedite the handling all inquiries and transactions, and in support to the local economy and for achievement of sustainable development in the emirate.

The merger was an implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that was signed between the two sides earlier this year.  The MoU stated both parties to coordinate and cooperate and introduce practical facilities to the Business Sector for serving and strengthening the Economy of the Emirate of Sharjah.  According to the MoU, a specialized technical committee, which comprises members from both sides, was formed for studying the services where both can cooperate and outlining the procedures to be executed to facilitate workflow for companies and businesses. As a result, this would expedite the processing of inquiries and setting up one unified shared data base between the two bodies.    

This service, which became effective earlier this month, allows interested clients to receive membership directly in SCCI when they submit their paper work requirements for obtaining commercial registration (CR).  With their CRs, clients can perform their commercial activities in the emirate when they submit their inquiry, complete associated procedures, pay their fees all at once through one unified e-gate. 

H.E. Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI Chairman said: “We aim from launching one unified system between the chamber and SEDD to introduce an excellent customer service to clients from companies, corporation and individuals so they can submit their inquiries, complete their transactions and pay their dues from the one unified e-gate.  This comes in line with the Government of Sharjah’s keenness in facilitating and easing government inquiries and working on strengthening mutual cooperation among all government bodies in order to provide more efficient services.  This contributes in consolidating the business environment and positioning the status of Sharjah as a primal destination for attracting investments and boosting economic flow in the emirate with its outlook for higher and better standards.”    

Al Owais pointed out “this service was provided in the past when renewing the commercial registration only, but now and in addition to renewal, new clients will be granted membership when submitting a request for a new CR at SEDD,” underscoring SCCI’s keenness toward dedicated and continuous work efforts to develop its services, and contribute into executing the chamber’s strategic objectives in sustaining the confidence of members through the introduction of quality-oriented and smart services. 

Al Owais expressed the chamber’s aspiration to continuously improve the quality of services to clients, including smart and e-services, through looking for innovative and advanced approaches that would develop services to fellow members of the chamber from the business sector in Sharjah.  The chamber looks to further exploiting modern technology to establish unified shared data base between SCCI and SEDD and benefit from best applied practices that adapt to the role the chamber plays in offering facilities, services and cope with ongoing developments to boost the chamber’s competitiveness in performance, provide all the kinds of technical facilities for clients through adopting technical developments and use best means to reach set objectives. 

H.E. Sultan Abdullah bin Hadda Al Suwaidi, Chairman of Sharjah Economic Development Department said: “This new initiative comes as an execution for directives from HH Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to introduce government services at the easiest and fastest possible ways and with the framework of consolidating coordination and cooperation among government departments and bodies in Sharjah to provide the best services to  companies, traders and clients, boost and develop trade in the emirate and offer an attractive investment environment for the business sector from around the world. 

Al Suwaidi emphasized on the importance of consolidating mutual cooperation among the various working bodies in the emirate for serving the economy’s sectors, providing services that strengthen the business environment, facilitating government inquiries and improving clients and partners’ loyalty and satisfaction by adopting best practices in procedures, performance development for an attractive business environment.

H.E. Khalid Bin Butti Al Hajri Director-General of the SCCI hailed the outcome of the joint efforts between the chamber and SEDD in taking the merge to its final phases and completing successfully in a unified system between the two bodies.  Such merge comes within the overall electronic transformation the chamber is conducting with all concerned parties in the Emirate of Sharjah, since it will contribute in facilitating and conducting the mechanisms of the business sector in the emirate, said Al Hajri. 

SCCI launched the unified system successfully where it was received positively by companies and traders whom hailed such move that would facilitate and expedite their inquiries and save them money and time. 

As part of its commitment to serve its members, the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) discussed ways of cooperation with the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (EASM).

The meeting took place at the EASM’s headquarters in Dubai, recently, and was attended by senior officials from both organizations. 

The chamber’s delegation presented the challenges faced by food products exporters and the feedback reports from exporters on the customs clearance procedures.

Issues of mutual interest were, also, discussed during the meeting. The delegation was familiarized with the procedures to obtain the Emirates Quality Mark (Halal), granted to facilities conforming to the requirements of the UAE System for the Control of Halal Products. The GCC’s first of its kind Halal accreditation is aimed at strengthening the leading position of the UAE as a reliable hub for export and re-export of Halal products. 

The two sides discussed ways to promote the participation of the GCC’s members in the technical workshops and awareness seminar offered by the EASM to partners and clients. The EASM will coordinate with the SCCI on workshops to the private sector companies in the Emirate of Sharjah.

Yousef Yaqoub Al Qaseer praised the efforts made by EASM to build confidence in national products and to develop quality systems. He said: “The visit is a great opportunity to learn from the EASM experience in health, safety and environmental protection and their best practices in consumer protection.

The meeting was attended by Yousef Yaqoub Al Qaseer, SCCI Consultant in Industrial Affairs, Abdulaziz Shattaf, Director of the Sharjah Exports Development Centre, Lubna Al Khayal, Head of Research and Studies Department at the SCCI, Fahad Al Khatibi, Head of Administrative Affairs at EASM and Eman Mohammed, Head of Excellence Department, ESAM, in addition to a number of directors from both organizations

Mr. Saeed Ghanim Al Suwaidi, Chairman of the Representative Committee of the Real Estate Sector at the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), revealed that a business plan is being put in place to promote the Emirate’s real estate sector at the overseas exhibitions, with a particular focus on the GCC countries, as the GCC investors account for a large portion of the total investments in Sharjah’s real estate sector.

Al Suwaidi clarified the participation in exhibitions in the targeted markets will be a significant part of the plan. In addition, efforts will be made in collaboration with the SCCI and other stakeholders to promote the competitiveness of Sharjah’s real estate sector and the importance of the Emirate as a destination of choice for investors.

The statement was made during the periodical meeting of the Representative Committee of the Real Estate Sector at the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which was held at the SCCI’s headquarter, in the presence of the chamber’s members, alongside Mr. Obaid Al Mazloum, representative of the Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department and Mr. Amjad Awad, Head of the Representative Committees at the SCCI.

He added: “The top priority on the agenda is to approve a strategy to stimulate the real estate sector, which is one of the pillars of the Emirate’s economy. We continue our coordination with our partners in the SCCI and the concerned government agencies to explore ways to advance the progress of this sector and maintain its competitive edge.

Attendees presented the real estate landscape in Sharjah and set up a business plan that is in line with the prudent directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. The plan took into account the requirements of the market and the current condition in the region.

Attendees discussed organizing a series of workshops and training courses, starting from Kalba and the Eastern Region of the Emirate, in collaboration with the Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department. Raising awareness about the real estate requirements and improving communication between real estate agents and the RERD will be the major objectives of the events.

The committee members examined the report of the real estate transactions, issued by the Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department. They commended the collaboration with the department which serves the interests of all real estate professionals. They stressed that the constructive dialogue with the RERD portrays the depth of the partnership between the public and private sectors. They underscored that this PPP is and additional competitive edge of the business community in Sharjah.  

Attendees agreed to identify the regional and international industry exhibitions and to select the best ones for participation in. The recommended supporting the real estate exhibitions which will be organized by the RERD next year.

Mr. Mohamed Ahmed Amin, Director General Assistant for Communication and Business Sector at the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that the Representative Committees constitute a major part of the SCCI’s initiatives aimed at encouraging the private sector to play its vital role in the Emirate’s economy. He underlined that the input of these industry specific groups help address the challenges and find the appropriate solutions to invigorate each respective sector

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in collaboration with Department of Government Relations, hosted the New Zealand-UAE Business Roundtable, at the chamber’s headquarter.

The meeting was aimed at presenting the investment opportunities in Sharjah to the New Zealand business community, boosting the trade exchange and strengthening the investment partnership between the Emirate and New Zealand, to serve the common interests of Sharjah and New Zealand.

Ways to bolster the bilateral relations between the two sides in all economic areas were discussed, with the aim to advance the business and investment cooperation between the Emirate and New Zealand.  Attendees discussed the possibilities of forging joint ventures to take advantage of the existing opportunities in vital sectors such as agriculture, food security and education.

The New Zealand delegation was headed by HE Todd McClay, Minister of Trade accompanied by HE Jeremy Clarke-Watson, New Zealand Ambassador to the UAE, and comprised of an elite group of businessmen representing different sectors, including IT, tourism, education, healthcare, agriculture, food safety and many more.

The meeting was attended by Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Government Relations, HE Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, HE Khalid Jassim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), HE Walid Bukhatir, Second Vice-Chairman of the SCCI, HE Khalid bin Butti Al Hajri, Director General of the SCCI, HE Marwan Al Sarkal, CEO of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) and a number of SCCI’s board members and representatives of the business communities in New Zealand and Sharjah.

In his welcome speech, Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Government Relations, welcomed the New Zealand delegation, on behalf of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.

Sheikh Fahim said: “When looking at the ways in which our two regions are similar, I spotted one clear common goal. New Zealand and Sharjah both understand the need to protect our heritage and language. It is for this reason that Sharjah is the cultural capital of the UAE. With a focus on culture, history and the arts, we welcome tourists from all over the globe that visit our museums, archeological sites and galleries. What started with the first flights into Sharjah International Airport has resulted in Sharjah being awarded the Cultural Capital of the Middle East in 1998 and Capital of Arab Tourism in 2015”.

Sheikh highlighted the Emirate’s competitiveness, saying: “Sharjah is a gateway and the only emirate that boasts ports of both the Arabian Gulf and the Indian Ocean. Our local champions in the private sector are actively growing exports to the GCC, CIS countries and East Africa. Based largely in our two free zones, the Hamriyah Free Zone with direct access to the port and the Sharjah International Airport Freezone, or SAIF Zone, adjacent to the airport, a large number of multinationals are using Sharjah’s cost competitiveness to export to these thriving markets. From my experience in the private sector, I understand the profitability drivers steer major decisions for companies to locate regional export centers. Sharjah is a cost effective base for multinationals to succeed in serving these new markets”.

“I will be visiting New Zealand in December, and while it will be a personal trip, I look forward to learning more about ways in which we can collaborate.”, he concluded.

In his speech, HE Todd McClay, Minister of Trade, stressed the keenness of the New Zealand government to develop the bilateral relations with the UAE, particularly the Emirate of Sharjah, in different business and investment sectors, due to the geographical location and economic progress in the Emirate.

Todd McClay stated that the value of New Zealand exports to the GCC countries amounted to over $1.23 billion.

He said the purpose of the first of its kind visit was to explore new avenues to strengthen collaboration.

He praised the Emirate of Sharjah and the investor friendly climate it offers to businesses. He expressed his delight at meeting the business community in Sharjah. He extended his thanks and gratitude for the warm welcome and hospitality.

Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: “The UAE and New Zealand have growing economic ties and a mutual interest to develop these relations. Action was taken in this regard, with the setting up of the UAE-New Zealand Joint Committee. The outcome was a series of MoUs and agreements signed in the first meeting of the committee in last March”. 

He added: “Today meeting follows the MoU signed between UAE Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, which was aimed at facilitating business and investment between the two countries”.

Al Owais expressed his hope that the business roundtable will contribute to building a sustainable economic partnership between the two sides. He stressed the importance of such meetings in enabling New Zealand businessmen learn about the business friendly environment, flexible legal framework, attractive incentives and many more facilities that help businesses thrive in Sharjah. 

The Non-oil trade exchange between the UAE and New Zealand was amounted at AED3.2 billion ($869 million) in 2014, according to a report issued by the Ministry of Economy. The value of trade exchange between the two countries continued its upward trajectory from 2012 to 2014, according to the same report.

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) hosted the 5^th board meeting of the International Chamber of Commerce – United Arab Emirates (ICC-UAE) at Al Hisn Conference Hall .

The meeting was aimed at discussing the plans of the ICC-UAE to develop their services, raise their reputation and rankings to levels superior to international counterparts, ensure a larger representation of the local business community worldwide and promote the chamber, their services and forthcoming activities.

Chaired by Humaid Mohammed bin Salem, Chairman of the ICC-UAE, the agenda of the meeting included the approval of the minutes of the previous meeting hosted at RAK Chamber of Commerce and Industry in May, 22^nd 2016. Other items of the agenda covered a review of the activities and participations of the chamber in 2016.

In 2016, the ICC-UAE participated in the ICC World Chambers Federation Congress, the ICC’s 4^th annual Conference on International Arbitration in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) which took place in Dubai, last April and the ICC Permanent Heads Meeting in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 15-16 June 2016.

The ICC-UAE’s board of directors reviewed the package of benefits and privileges offered to the corporate members in the UAE and the future plans to develop these services and expand the membership base to include a larger segment of the local business community.

The ICC-UAE’s upcoming activities and events were highlighted during the meeting. The chamber plans to participate in the ICC-UAE Trade Finance Conference and the ICC’s 8^th regional congress in the Middle East, and is preparing to hold the ICC-UAE’s 6^th board meeting in December 14.

Fatima Khalifa Al Mukarab, Member of the ICC-UAE, commended the vital role of the ICC-UAE in promoting investment opportunities and developing business environment in line with the competitiveness of the UAE in terms of economic development. He expressed the SCCI’s commitment to strengthen its partnership and cooperation with the ICC-UAE. “This is to ensure the effective integration of roles and responsibilities and support the economic diversification strategy guided by our prudent leadership”, he added.

Founded in 2004, the International Chamber of Commerce – United Arab Emirates (ICC-UAE) is the largest national representation of the commercial, industrial and business enterprises. The ICC-UAE has a huge national network of companies operating in different business sectors in the UAE. The chamber voices the interest of the UAE economic communities worldwide.

Headquartered in Paris, the International Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1919 to promote the international trade, voice the business sector worldwide and promote peace. The ICC’s main activities include arbitration, dispute resolution and free trade and free economy policy advocacy. Also, the ICC fights commercial crimes including fraud and corruption