The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, SCCI, has recently organized a consultative meeting with representatives, heads, and executives of the contracting companies operating in the Emirate of Sharjah, with a view to reviewing the developments in the contracting sector and ways of developing it.

Headed by H.E. Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, SCCI’s Chairman, the meeting is one of a series of periodic meetings the SCCI organizes to identify the reality of the various economic sectors, discuss challenges, exchange opinions, ideas and visions in various fields, and come up with recommendations that meet the aspirations of those sectors, as well as to develop SCCI services for the business community.

Held at the SCCI headquarters, the meeting was attended by HE Mohammed Rashid Dimas, SCCI’s Board Member, HE Mohammad Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, SCCI’s Director-General, Ibrahim Rashid Al Jarwan, Director of SCCI’s Economic Relations and Marketing, and Lubna Saleh Al Khayyal, Director of Knowledge Department.

The meeting discussed a number of thrusts that help develop the contracting sector, so as to promote Sharjah’s urban planning and infrastructure. also, the meeting dealt with the impact of VAT and its repercussions on the contracting sector.

Bolstering the Interests of Business Sectors

H.E. Abdullah Sultan Al Owais emphasized the SCCI’s commitment to bolstering the interests of various business sectors to develop their activities, retain their members, and ensuring the representation of the largest segment of those affiliated with these sectors.

Al Owais pointed out that the establishment of representative business groups reflects the importance of maintaining communication with the private sector to consolidate the principle of consultation that ultimately serves the local and national business community.

“The SCCI is keen to closely monitor the reality and affairs of Sharjah’s contracting sector and to consult about opportunities for the growth and prosperity of this sector and to further compete in the local, regional and global markets” he said, noting that the contracting sector plays a key role in supporting Sharjah’s development journey.

The SCCI’s Chairman stressed the Chamber’s endeavors to develop this important sector by strengthening the efforts of the SCCI’s real estate business group in providing advice, offering effective initiatives, participating in organizing development activities and programs that contribute to the growth of the contracting sector, strengthening communication channels with various government authorities, and finding solutions to all the challenges facing their business.

Harnessing All Efforts

The SCCI’s Director-General, HE Mohammad Ahmed Amin Al-Awadi, said: “The SCCI is keen on harnessing all the efforts to support and empower Sharjah’s contracting sector, through a constant pursuit and continuous follow-up to overcome all the challenges it faces, in a way that contributes to the development of its performance and enhances the investment climate in it.”

Al-Awadi underlined that the SCCI’s Representative Committee of the Real Estate Sector Business Group has spared no effort to support contracting companies in the emirate, through constant communication with various government institutions, as well as providing consulting services and training programs, in addition to organizing specialized exhibitions in the field of construction and contracting to enhance expertise and discover more new investment opportunities.

The meeting also included reviewing the UAE’s latest tax system developments and legislations regulating value-added tax for the business community.

In turn, a number of contracting company representatives expressed their thanks to the SCCI for its unlimited support and effort in launching constructive initiatives and acquainting them with opportunities for growth, prosperity, and competition in the local and regional markets, stressing their keenness to develop their performance and provide the market with innovative ideas and ambitious projects.