HE Abdallah Sultan Al Owais. Chairman of the SCCI, announced that a new category will be added to the Sharjah Economic Excellence Network Award, which will be titled the “Sharjah Entrepreneurial Award for people with Disabilities”. The new award will raise the number of categories to 8, starting with next year’s edition.

Al Owais also announced that Sharjah Chamber will organize an “Entrepreneurship Forum” annually, which is an initiative that aims to support and develop the entrepreneurship sector in the Emirate of Sharjah and to give special attention to persons with disabilities, as part of its role as the primary representative of the business community in the emirate.

Al Owais stressed that launching these two initiatives is in line with the wise vision and directives of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah,  on the importance of solidifying the trust in the abilities and capabilities of persons with disabilities, and to give them support to pursue entrepreneurship in Sharjah, as well as open investment opportunities to all entrepreneurs including persons with disabilities, which is in line with the UAE vision 2021 and the national agenda.

These announcements were made during the opening of the entrepreneurship forum, which was organized by the SCCI at its headquarters on Tuesday, under the slogan “Entrepreneurship Forum – Vast opportunities for people with disabilities”. The opening was attended by HE Abdallah Sultan Al Owais. Chairman of the SCCI; HE Raghda Hamad Omran Taryam. Board member at the SCCI; HE Mohamed Ahmed Amin, Acting Director-General of the SCCI; Mona Abdul Karim Al Yafei, Director of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services; Kim Soo Han, Director of the Center for Business Enterprises for People with Disabilities in South Korea; Najla Al Midfa, CEO of Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa); and Mariam Saif Al Shamsi, Assistant Director-General for the Support Services Sector at the SCCI.

The opening was also attended by a number of officials and representatives of government agencies in the emirate, in addition to more than 200 people, with the majority being persons with disabilities.

HE Mohamed Ahmed Amin, Acting Director-General of the SCCI, stated that the SCCI’s initiative is part of its keenness to launch initiatives and projects that support people with disabilities, entrepreneurs, and especially entrepreneurs with disabilities.

Amin clarified that launching this initiative is in line with the chamber’s role and strategy as the first representative for the private sector in Sharjah, and its commitment to social responsibility, which are part of the wise vision and directives of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah,  and with the continuous follow-up of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah. He added that this role and strategy has led to Sharjah being named the “Accessible City for the Physically Disabled” by the World Federation of the Disabled a few day ago.

The forum included two workshops. The first workshop was titled “Entrepreneurship for people with disabilities – A model for the Korean experience”, which was presented by Kim Guan Hoo from the center for Business Enterprises for People with Disabilities in South Korea. The workshop was aimed at professionals that work in the field of vocational preparation for people with disabilities, as well as students with disabilities and their parents, companies that specialize in entrepreneurship and that support entrepreneurs, and entrepreneurs with disabilities. The workshop discussed ways to develop the system of support and infrastructure for companies of people with disabilities in the UAE. The second workshop, entitled “From an idea to a project”, was presented by Mr. Naser from the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa). The workshop discussed ways of opening the doors of entrepreneurship to students with disabilities, and facilitating their journey to success.

On the sidelines of the forum, the “Products from Korean Companies of People with Disabilities Exhibition” was held at the SCCI. The exhibition was opened by HE Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, as well as a number of participants in the event.