Sharjah, UAE, September 14, 2008: The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) expressed its commitment to encouraging more local, regional and foreign investments into Sharjah’s special industrial zones during a recent meeting with the Emirates Industrial City (EIC) at the Chamber’s offices. The session is one of several initiatives being undertaken by the SCCI to strengthen ties with its members and stakeholders and improve industrial and public sector relations.
The EIC delegation, which included Director General Mohamed Nasser Al-Hazza and Governmental Relations Director Ghazi Al Talmasany, was received by SCCI Director General Hussein Mohammad Al Mahmoudi and Assistant Director General of Economic and International Affairs, Mohammed Ahmad Amin. The group exchanged ideas on incentives and facilities to further attract investments, and also discussed how EIC’s impressive 8,000,000-sqm area could be promoted to various business sectors in Sharjah and across the UAE through SCCI’s participation in various exhibitions and economic forums in the U.A.E and abroad.
"Sharjah is emerging as a prime destination for investors in search of world-class industrial zones such as EIC. SCCI has been coordinating with local government to provide attractive incentives to lure both local and national investments into these major income-generating zones. Our efforts are being rewarded with increased investor inquiries and even recognition from international organizations that are highly impressed with our business-friendly environment," said Al Mahmoudi.
The authorities concerned drafted a plan to establish 11 industrial zones to boost the emirate’s industrial development and attract investors and businessmen. This was immediately executed by SCCI as part of a broad effort to diversify Sharjah’s economic activities towards growth sectors such as textiles, foodstuff, and basic non-metals. Through this foresight, Sharjah now accounts for 47 per cent of the UAE’s industrial GDP, with the industrial sector generating almost 10 per cent of local GDP. Sharjah, the third largest emirate and the only one with ports on the Gulf and Indian Ocean, continues to intensify its transition into a Middle Eastern redistribution and re-export hub.
"SCCI has been a staunch advocate of industrial development ever since its inception, which is why we value its insights on how we can further develop our City as a prime industrial area. We thank SCCI for helping make EIC a reality, and commit our support to its efforts to attract diversified investments and forge a stronger bond between Sharjah’s private and public sectors. SCCI is truly an important element in Sharjah’s quest for sustained economic progress," said Al-Hazza.
Emirates Industrial City is an iconic industrial and commercial complex created to meet all industrial requirements and investment needs. The City is only five minutes away from Sharjah Airport and services major national seaports, airports, and free zones. The first-of-its-kind industrial hub is divided into eight sectors, two of which are dedicated for warehousing and logistics. EIC uses natural gas as a main energy source and offers a dust- and noise-free environment for specialized industries.
Since its inception in 1970, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been leading emirate-wide efforts to motivate and assist its members and the private sector in general to achieve improved productivity and consequently influence enhanced local economic diversification. The Chamber currently coordinates with agencies and trade chambers in the UAE and throughout the world with the aim of improving its member services and developing solid international economic relations.
