Special Features
Made in Sharjah Exhibition
With Sharjah’s local manufacturing sector accounting for almost half of the UAE’s industrial GDP, local products and investment opportunities in the Emirate were on focus at the ‘Made in Sharjah’ exhibition that got under way at Expo Centre Sharjah on Tuesday (October 18, 2011).The number of industrial establishments in the UAE stands at 4,600 out of which more than 1,554 are in Sharjah and over 700 are in SAIF and Hamriyah free zones. The value of total industrial products is estimated to be more than Dhs. 20 billion and total exports stand at Dhs. 3 billion.
Aiming to showcase Sharjah’s fast expanding industrial units and emerging investment opportunities, the second edition of Made In Sharjah show was opened by H.E. Sheikh Khalid Bin Abdullah Bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Chairman of Sharjah Sea Ports and Customs.
Being organized by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the exhibition will continue until October 21. The opening ceremony was attended by Mr. Ahmed Mohammed Al Midfa, Chairman, SCCI, and Hussein Mohammed Al Mahmoudi, SCCI Director General, senior government and industry representatives.
“The Government of Sharjah is keen to provide a good investment climate and continuous support to small and medium enterprises, the backbone of any local economy,” said Mr. Al Midfa.
“The exhibition aims to support and promote local industrial products of Sharjah and expand their reach to regional and international markets. Over 100 industrial enterprises, in addition to several local government authorities and federal ministries, are taking part in the show. The exhibition offers various opportunities for businesses to pursue new projects and sustain their expansion programmes across the region,” he added.
“Favourable laws, facilities and incentives provided by the government to investors have contributed significantly in attracting major international companies to Sharjah, and this pro-investment approach has gone a long way in cementing the Emirate’s position as a key destination for investment in the industrial sector,” Mr. Al Midfa added.
For the first time, a seminar was held alongside the show. Titled Sharjah Industrial Forum, the seminar showcased investment opportunities in the Emirate and target governmental bodies, manufacturers, industrial services providers, importers and exporters as well as industrial researchers.
“Made in Sharjah exhibition comes under the guidance of the Government of Sharjah to provide all forms of support to stimulate the industrial sector and to push for increased sales and promotion of local products,” said Al Mahmoudi.
Made in Sharjah exhibition is also part of SCCI’s commitment to provide local businesses a platform where they can promote their products and services, aimed at boosting economic activities and helping double the rate of the sector’s contribution to the country’s GDP.
The event will also highlight the launching of the new ‘Made in Sharjah’ slogan, a branding activity that is expected to help promote the quality of local products and their competitiveness and help strengthen business ties between producers, local exporters and importers from other countries.
Participants at the show include Sharjah Airport Free Zone, Al Hamriyah Free Zone, Sharjah Municipality, Sharjah Civil Defence and other government departments, apart from private establishments, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between public and private sectors for the development of the industrial sector in Sharjah.
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