Gulftainer, the world’s largest privately owned independent port operator, in conjunction with its logistics subsidiary Momentum Logistics, will co-host the Sharjah Business Summit with prominent local government entities. Set to take place at the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry on 17 May 2017, the event will highlight the emirate’s investment potential and showcase state-of-the-art logistics and supply chain solutions that can accelerate business growth in Sharjah.

Organisers of the summit include the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), Sharjah Municipality, Sharjah Ports Authority (SPA), and the emirate’s free zone authorities.

Convening key government stakeholders in Sharjah’s business sector under one roof, the event will offer an unparalleled opportunity to explore the investment outlook and unlock growth. Featuring a combination of interactive presentations and roundtable discussions, the summit will stimulate dialogue around new investment prospects in the emirate of Sharjah.

Innovations featured at the event will include Gulftainer’s land bridge that integrates the company’s ports and logistics offerings through linking seaports to inland container depots, Sharjah Municipality’s new cargo-clearing procedures, and SPA’s customs clearance e-portal.

Speaking on the significance of the summit, Flemming Dalgaard, CEO of Gulftainer, said: “Sharjah’s strategic facilities and advanced logistics infrastructure have played an instrumental role in increasing the popularity of the emirate among investors, giving it a competitive edge in global trade and commerce today. With some of our most significant assets based in Sharjah, Gulftainer is well-positioned to capitalise on the emirate’s potential.”

He added: “With innovation at the core of our investment strategy, Gulftainer is committed to encouraging new ways of doing business. The Sharjah Business Summit provides an effective platform to share best practices in innovation across the supply chain for the wider benefit of the industry. We look forward to co-hosting the event and building synergies with key decision-makers in Sharjah.”

Marwan Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO of Shurooq, said: “The Sharjah Business Summit aligns with Shurooq’s objectives of creating a business-friendly environment in Sharjah and reinforcing the emirate’s status as a leading regional industrial hub. Sharjah’s strategic location and its burgeoning transport and logistics sector present enormous scope for innovation in the supply chain. In this context, the summit offers an ideal opportunity to leverage the emirate’s investment potential, enhance the competitiveness of its supply chain, and identify new avenues for business growth and collaboration.”

In 2016, Sharjah’s fast-growing economy attracted a record volume of foreign direct investments (FDI) valued at AED912 million. With an anticipated growth rate of 15 per cent, this figure is projected to exceed AED1 billion by end-2017.

The Sharjah Business Summit reflects the emirate’s continued progress in consolidating its position as a strategic investment destination. In addition to promoting Sharjah’s ample facilities that include the region’s largest industrial areas and the benefits that the emirate offers investors, the event seeks to strengthen existing synergies and facilitate long-term business partnerships. Interested participants can register at sbs.gulftainer.com.