Leading Sharjah government entities are leveraging their presence at the ninth Annual Investment Meeting (AIM 2019) to showcase the emirate’s diverse sectors and competitive advantages on offer to foreign investors seeking opportunities for expansion.
Showcasing Sharjah’s strategic location, investment-friendly business landscape, transparency and flexibility of procedures, which adds to the UAE’s profile among top investment destinations globally, participating entities have revealed that they are working towards boosting these qualities by launching smart technologies, which will drive growth in all sectors, particularity boosting the role of technology and innovation sector.
Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD), Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP), Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) and Sharjah Media City (SHAMS), are among the participating entities in the Sharjah stand along with the Sharjah FDI Office (Invest in Sharjah).
Supporting trade and attracting foreign investment
HE Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI, said AIM represents a great opportunity for the Chamber to reach out to key investors in the world and establish new partnerships with them. “We make the best use of our relationships with several overseas markets to support foreign trade, attract foreign investment and highlight the competitive advantages Sharjah is equipped to offer at various levels.”
He also highlighted that SCCI has embraced smart solutions to save time and effort, and provide additional benefits to its members and the larger business community. “SCCI’s keenness to harness the latest technologies to achieve excellence in its work system, specifically in terms of the digital and smart transformation and providing modern and innovative services, are aligned with Sharjah‘s vision to build a knowledge-based society and economy.”
A digital approach to establishing business
HE Sultan bin Haddah Al Suwaidi, Chairman of SEDD, said: "The Annual Investment Forum 2019 is a valuable opportunity for the department to introduce investors to our latest services and facilities, especially those that can be accessed from anywhere around the world on our smart application.
He noted that SEDD has been successful in regulating licensing procedures and stimulated Sharjah’s rapidly diversifying economic sectors with new benefits for investors, which have seen a rise in both local and international investments. “SEDD is working to simplify its services to streamline business registrations, issue business licences in a day, and provide the greatest possible degree of flexibility to both investors and customers.”
He illustrated that the department also works to help investors by working in tandem with various local and federal government bodies.
Shams – supporting the growth of new media entrepreneurs
HE Khalid Omar Al Midfa, Chairman of Shams, said the media free zone strives to cement Sharjah’s status as a media hub for entrepreneurs and start-up businesses seeking to establish a presence and grow in the UAE’s thriving media industry. “Shams attracts media companies by supporting and inspiring the launch of a variety media projects with an aim to advance the media industry in Sharjah and the UAE.
“Shams has recently launched pioneering initiatives such as the UAE Entertainment Experience, which attracted a great number of young talents in the UAE. We also launched Shams Digital Solutions – our digital arm,” Al Midfa added.
Integrated facilities for advancement of research and tech
HE. Hussein Mohammed Al Mahmoudi, the Sharjah RTI Park CEO said AIM is a leading vital platform that brings together key industry leaders – individuals and companies – from all over the region and the world under one roof.
“Sharjah RTI Park is working to build a scientific technological base to promote the development of water technologies, renewable energy, environmental and transport technology, IT and digitisation, production design and architecture,” Al Mahmoudi noted.
Al Mahmoudi also highlighted, Sharjah RTI Park has a significant package of incentives on offer for investors – tax and customs waivers and full ownership of enterprises, to enable them to enter and compete in the global markets.
“Sharjah RTI Park is continuing its efforts to push the UAE’s status as a global leader in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. From shaping future sectors, most notably robotics and drones, 3D printing and self-driving transport, as well as driving forward scientific, applied and technological research in the IoT and big data sectors,” he added.
Stable and transparent investment climate
Mohamed Juma Al Musharrkh, CEO of Invest in Sharjah, said AIM 2019 presented Sharjah an excellent opportunity to shine light on the existing and emerging investment prospects in key sectors of healthcare, real estate, environmental technology, tourism, media, renewable energy and logistics. He also said that Sharjah’s flexible government and commercial procedures, the incorporation of smart services, and its stable and transparent investment climate make these opportunities more lucrative and attainable.
Al Musharrkh reiterated the integrated approach and strong collaboration among the various government departments, reinforcing how it benefits both investors and the local economy.
From Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), Najla Al Midfa, CEO of Sheraa, said: "The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) is honored to be part of the Sharjah Pavilion at AIM 2019. Sharjah is a rapidly growing hub for business and entrepreneurship, and key events such as AIM 2019 provide Sheraa with the opportunity to showcase the talent emerging from Sharjah to international investors, as well as offer our support to the high-potential startups looking to grow their ventures.”
She continued: “Sheraa would like to thank His Excellency Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, Executive Chairman of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), as well as Invest in Sharjah for hosting us at the pavilion."
The Sharjah FDI Office (Invest in Sharjah) aims to promote investment opportunities in the emirate at various local, regional and international forums. Since its inception by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) during the Sharjah FDI Forum in September 2016, the office has been able to strengthen channels of communication between the local and international investment markets.
The office is mandated to attract investors to the emirate and introduce them to the direct returns of their investments. It also contributed to cementing the emirate’s position as an investment destination of choice in the region, in line with its ongoing endeavours to establish Sharjah as one of the world’s top investment attractions.
