HE Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah, has announced putting the final touches on an integrated strategy to improve the exhibition industry in the Eastern Region by 2020.

The strategy, as Al midfa reaffirmed, builds on the development progress the region is seeing in line with the unlimited support and attention given by H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to develop the eastern region, improve its infrastructure and diversify Sharjah’s economy.

Al Midfa made the announcement as he received a delegation from Expo Khor Fakkan to discuss the ongoing plans aimed to develop the exhibition industry in Khor Fakkan and eastern region.

While receiving Khalil Al Mansouri, Director of Expo Khor Fakkan; in the presence of Mohamed Elzamek, Exhibition Manager at Expo Khor Fakkan, Al Midfa stressed that work is underway to develop a new plan that will spur the exhibition industry in the eastern region to new heights in the light of the recent development projects recently launched in the eastern region.

These projects entail specialized exhibitions and innovations to further boost the contribution of exhibition industry to small and medium enterprises, stimulate investments and the commercial sector and create more job opportunities for residents of the region, Al Midfa noted.

The CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah added: “The economic environment in the eastern region and Khor Fakkan mainly depends on the exhibition sector, which is considered a key pillar of the development progress. Therefore, we are gearing up for the next decade starting from 2020, with a series of innovative plans that will foster investment, development and social life in the region.

“Today, we have addressed a number of initiatives and steps that will transform Expo Khor Fakkan into a gateway to investment in the eastern region and a catalyst for supporting the tourism, trade and real estate sectors.

We will focus on consumer exhibitions that would benefit the region’s residents and we will magnet international exhibitions to introduce investors to the diverse opportunities in the region.

We will also work tirelessly to enhance the skills and expertise of all employees in this sector through training courses that meet the highest international standards and ensure high competitiveness for all exhibitions hosted by Expo Khor Fakkan” He further said.

For his part, Al Mansouri pointed out that the meeting shed light on the activities and achievements made by Expo Khor Fakkan during the first half of this year and discussed a number of steps and development measures that will improve the performance of the exhibition sector in the eastern region, which will make the Expo Khor Fakkan a major contributor to the growth of the region. He also praised the cooperation and support of Expo Sharjah to help Expo Khor Fakkan achieve its vision, mission and objectives.

He stressed that the Expo is working in close coordination with the Expo Sharjah to innovate various services, facilities and ensure the quality of exhibitions, in line with its objectives to attract world-class exhibitions serving the region and its various economic sectors.

During the second half of this year, the Expo Khor Fakkan will organize a series of major events and exhibitions, which are expected to witness huge turnout by investors and exhibitors.