During its 15th periodic meeting, the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, SCCI, has approved the operational plan for the year 2021. The plan comprises a set of important objectives, including the Chamber’s full commitment to supporting the business sector, entrepreneurs, and SME owners and helping them overcome the Covid-19-related challenges.

This is in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the UAE Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who always calls for the need to help the companies operating in Sharjah increase their exports and competitiveness in global markets, as this would help enhance the emirate’s economic growth and its sources of income.

Chaired by His Excellency Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the meeting was attended by His Excellency Sheikh Majid Faisal Khalid Al Qasemi, SCCI First Vice Chairman, His Excellency Waleed Abdul Rahman Bu Khatir, SCCI Second Vice Chairman, and board members of the chamber.

Attending also were His Excellency Mohammad Ahmed Amin Al-Awadi, SCCI Director-General, His Excellency Saif Mohammed Al-Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah, Maryam Saif Al Shamsi, Assistant General Director, Support Sector of the SCCI, and Abdul Aziz Shattaf, SCCI Assistant General Director, Members Services Sector.

Approving the SCCI’s budget estimate for 2021 was one of the topics that have been discussed, in addition to identifying the challenges facing the private sector and helping it get through them by launching diverse initiatives targeting different economic sectors.

Furthermore, the meeting has approved the Expo Centre’s general budget for 2021 and reviewed the most important achievements of Sharjah International Commercial Arbitration Centre (Tahkeem), as well as the progress of work in the 10th industrial zone infrastructure reconstruction project, which is carried out by the SCCI in cooperation with other government bodies.

Welcoming the attendees, Abdullah Sultan Al Owais lauded the tremendous efforts the wise leadership has exerted to develop the national economy and to maintain its sustainability, especially during Covid-19 challenges, making it among the world’s competitive economies.

“By putting forward various solutions and initiatives, we’ll remain committed to supporting the private sector to help it overcome the challenges and boost its competitiveness,” he underlined.

Mohammad Ahmed Amin Al-Awadi shed light on a number of feasibility studies for some emerging economic sectors and the mechanism for putting these studies into effect to enhance Sharjah’s status as an important destination for these sectors.

“To boost the efficiency and performance of these emerging sectors and to strengthen its organizational framework, we’ll be launching innovative and creative initiatives and programs, as well as stimulating innovation, research, and development. This is in line with the UAE’s visions and efforts to speed up the transformation to a knowledge-based economy,” Al-Awadi pointed out.

Thanking the Sharjah Chamber chairman and board of directors for their unlimited support, Saif Mohammed Al-Midfa stressed that this support has contributed to enhancing the Centre’s competitiveness and role in maintaining Sharjah’s leading position on the map of the international exhibitions, highlighting the expansion projects that have been implemented during the past period, leading to a significant increase in the number of stands and exhibition space that serve all the economic sectors in the emirate.