Initiative to promote local products, attract consumer confidence in local industries, support trade & investment opportunities
The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) launched its ‘Made in Sharjah’ program during a press conference held today (Monday, February 1, 2010) at the SCCI headquarters. The program will support industrial establishments and complete a series of initiatives undertaken during the past few years to promote local products and expand Sharjah’s reach to the international markets. The launching was attended by Director General Hussein Mohammed Al Mahmoudi, Yaqoub Yusuf Al Qaseer, Head of SCCI Industrial Development Division and Marwan Salem Hamed, Deputy Head of SCCI Industrial Development Division.
The campaign will highlight nine key focal points related to the development, promotion and advertisement of local products, namely, a ‘Made in Sharjah’ exposition; a label reflecting the slogan; a promotional plan for the permanent expo; promotional video clips; a monthly e-periodical; a dedicated webpage on www.tejari.com, the biggest commercial portal in the Middle East, that will serve as an export guide; a ‘Made in Sharjah’ standards initiative; and a training and development program.
“This unique initiative forms part of 2010 business strategies and plans that focus on the implementation of programs and activities that can significantly enhance Sharjah’s investment environment. This year we aim to highlight growth prospects within the emirate’s business community, support exports, and encourage the youth to start new and promising projects. We also intend to provide technical and consultancy services and funding facilities for our members so that they can strengthen their competitiveness at the regional and international level,” said Al Mahmoudi.
“We would like to thank H.H. Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the UAE Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, for his full support to our Chamber. He has helped facilitate our services to the business sector, our holding of economic events throughout the emirate, and the development of the civil society in a manner complementing the sustainability policy mandated by the local and federal governments,” he added.
The planned ‘Made in Sharjah’ Expo will be a specialized commercial event that will provide an integrated platform for communication between business organisations and customers. It will target west Asian countries, especially Syria, which received more than AED 18 million worth of Sharjah exports in 2008; eastern and middle African countries such as Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya which received more than AED 155 million during the same year; North African countries, especially Algeria, Libya and Morocco, which received Sharjah exports worth AED 150 million; and east African countries such as Ghana, which received AED 10 million worth of exports from the emirate.
The ‘Made in Sharjah’ label will promote local industries and consumer goods, enhance consumer confidence in local products, and support exports and various investment opportunities to enhance the regional and international economic and investment positions of Sharjah and the UAE in general. The planned media and advertising campaign for the permanent exhibition covering all mass media will focus on the role and importance of the exhibition.
A simple monthly e-periodical to be sent to all members of the permanent exhibition on a quarterly basis is also being planned. The e-periodical will contain information on local, regional and international market conditions as well as services offered by Arab and international funding and credit organizations. A dedicated website, a special e-guide and additional trade visits are also being considered in support of the exhibition. The Chamber has also expressed its willingness to produce a short film titled ‘Made in Sharjah’ with various lengths of between 30 seconds to 5 minutes to be aired in airports, on television, and on public displays.
The ‘Made in Sharjah’ program will include the preparation of an export processing guide under three main phases: distribution of orders to selected factories; classification of small and medium businesses according to priority of export, re-export, and import; and promotion of the guide. The guide will be distributed by the Chamber through various promotional means such as during the visit of delegations and foreign commissions; through SCCI’s cooperation with local and international chambers of commerce; and via the SCCI website.
SCCI further plans to launch a ’Made in Sharjah’ Standards Initiative in cooperation with the Emirates National Accreditation System (ENAS). Both parties will organize periodical lectures on standards in various fields and grant certificates of appreciation for conformity to the highest standards and enhance the participation of SCCI members in national standards committees.
SCCI will help improve the knowledge and skills of export-sector employees through a training program that will fall under the Sharjah Training and Development Center’s work plan. This program will help participants acquire diplomas or professional degrees as well. The Chamber will also coordinate with training bodies under prominent international authorities such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Gulf Organization of Industrial Consulting (GOIC), and United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) for this purpose.
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