The Sharjah FDI Office (Invest in Sharjah) participates in the Asian Financial Forum (AFF) in Hong Kong being held from 11-12 January. Led by Muhammed Al Musharakh, CEO, Invest in Sharjah, Marwan Saleh Alichla, Director, Investment Promotion & Support (Invest in Sharjah). Invest in Sharjah’s team participation aims to showcase the emirate’s diverse investment opportunities to international investors and business leaders from across the region.

The UAE is Hong Kong’s 17^th largest trading partner, with total trade value between the two places amounting to over AED 4.36 billion ($1.187 billion) in 2020. Additionally, the UAE was Hong Kong’s 11^th major export market with a total export value of AED 36.3 billion ($9.9 billion) in 2021 and 19^th largest import source with an import value of over AED 4.59 billion ($1.25 billion).

Hong Kong is a distinct economic partner for Sharjah and the UAE in general as the largest export and import market for Hong Kong in the Middle East, with upward growth during the last ten years. The strong relations between Hong Kong and the UAE are not limited to commercial exchange and Sharjah is particularly important to investors from Hong Kong.

The Invest in Sharjah stand at AFF provides a platform for the Hong Kong and Chinese investors to learn more about the opportunities offered by the emirate of Sharjah, which currently hosts over 600 Chinese companies operating in diversified fields, including 371 on Sharjah’s mainland and 245 in Sharjah’s ‘Free zones’. Also, there are 38 companies from Hong Kong currently operating in Sharjah, with 5 in Sharjah’s mainland, 33 in the ‘Free Zones’.

“We are honored to have had the opportunity to participate in the Asian Financial Forum and to showcase the investment opportunities that Sharjah has to offer, as well as promote the benefits that almost 600 Chinese companies are experiencing currently in our emirate” said CEO Muhammed Al Musharakh. “We are confident that through this platform, we will be able to strengthen our economic cooperation with Hong Kong and China, add to the extensive list of Chinese companies operating in Sharjah, and open new doors for mutually beneficial trade and investment.”

The Invest in Sharjah team will be gathering with potential investors as well as other important meetings at the Invest in Sharjah stand throughout the duration of the AFF. The agency’s objective is to attract foreign investments to Sharjah by promoting the competitive advantages and diverse opportunities the emirate has to offer, and increase the level of economic cooperation between Sharjah and global investors, especially those from Hong Kong and China.