Sharjah Empowers Youth with 'Emerging Entrepreneurs' Initiative for Innovation

The Sharjah Investors Services Centre (SAEED), in collaboration with the Sharjah FDI Office (Invest in Sharjah), has unveiled the "Emerging Entrepreneurs" initiative, a strategic move designed to foster entrepreneurship and innovation within the emirate. This initiative seeks to simplify the establishment and launch of new ventures in Sharjah, focusing on supporting youth projects, promoting economic diversification, and enhancing the emirate's competitive position to support comprehensive development.

In a concerted effort with the Sharjah Youth Council and the Sharjah SME (Ruwad), the initiative aims to ease licensing procedures through SAEED and streamline all necessary paperwork and government transactions. The Sharjah Youth Council is set to increase awareness among the youth through workshops and dedicated programs, facilitating startups' entry into the market. Concurrently, Ruwad offers entrepreneurs a comprehensive support package tailored for startups, which includes financing programs, virtual business incubators for university students, among other services.

Saif Al Suwaidi, the Acting Manager of SAEED, emphasized the initiative's role in integrating services to enhance investor support. "Through this initiative, in collaboration with the Sharjah Youth Council and Ruwad, we are broadening our scope to embrace young entrepreneurs and innovators eager to launch their projects and businesses in the emirate's vibrant markets," Al Suwaidi stated. He highlighted that these emerging business leaders would benefit from tailored facilitation packages, encouraging them to leverage Sharjah's nurturing environment for entrepreneurial ventures.

Sheikha Issa Al Harmoudi, a member of the Sharjah Youth Council, underscored the alignment of this collaboration with the council's strategic objectives. The initiative aims to champion successful investment initiatives among the emirate's youth, supporting the local economy while overcoming obstacles faced by young innovators and entrepreneurs. Al Harmoudi expressed optimism about these initiatives' potential in boosting youth-led project sustainability and encouraging innovation to propel comprehensive development forward.

Fatima Al Ali, Acting Director of Ruwad, stressed the importance of developing and sustaining partnerships with governmental entities to enhance Sharjah's entrepreneurial ecosystem. She highlighted Ruwad's commitment to providing a comprehensive range of support services and incentives to entrepreneurs, facilitating SME initiation and management. "This initiative serves as an innovative platform for empowering youth by easing the process of starting their businesses," Al Ali noted. She added that through this initiative, Ruwad directly interacts with entrepreneurs interested in joining their membership program, enabling new members to access a broad spectrum of benefits and support services that already benefit their network of 1,500 members.

The "Emerging Entrepreneurs" initiative represents a significant step towards fostering a supportive environment for young entrepreneurs in Sharjah. By simplifying processes and offering comprehensive support packages, SAEED, in partnership with the Sharjah Youth Council and Ruwad, is set to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship within the emirate. This collaborative effort not only supports economic diversification but also contributes to Sharjah's competitive stance on a global scale.

With inputs from WAM