Sharjah Chamber Expands Economic Cooperation With Nepal And Sri Lanka

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry is strengthening economic cooperation and investment partnerships with Nepal and Sri Lanka, aiming to open new channels for trade and joint projects. The discussions highlight Sharjah’s role within the UAE as a regional hub, while focusing on practical steps to link the emirate’s business community with key sectors in both South Asian economies.

During a series of high-level meetings at the Sharjah Chamber’s headquarters, Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI, met separate Nepalese and Sri Lankan delegations. The talks addressed priority sectors, upcoming events and mechanisms for long-term collaboration. Officials agreed to build structured frameworks that support information exchange, participation in exhibitions and direct contact between private-sector entities.

The meeting with the Nepalese delegation gathered senior representatives from both sides. The visiting group included Tej Bahadur Chhetri, Ambassador of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal to the UAE, and Chandra Prasad Dhakal, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry. From Sharjah, attendees included Mohammed Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Abdul Aziz Al Shamsi and Dr. Fatima Khalifa Al Muqarrab.

Discussions with Nepal centred on priority investment sectors that align with Sharjah’s diversified growth. Nepalese representatives outlined opportunities in hydropower, tourism, cable car projects, information technology, ready-made garments and agriculture. Chandra Prasad Dhakal expressed interest in establishing Nepalese enterprises in Sharjah, highlighting the emirate’s competitive environment and its supportive regulations for investors operating across regional and global markets.

Abdallah Sultan Al Owais reaffirmed the Sharjah Chamber’s commitment to a business-friendly setting that helps companies expand from the emirate to wider markets. Al Owais stressed that Sharjah’s geographic position and diverse economy support expansion plans. Al Owais encouraged Nepalese firms to join major events at Expo Centre Sharjah, such as Sharjah Real Estate Exhibition "ACRES", SteelFab and the Watch and Jewellery Middle East Show.

In a related session, Abdallah Sultan Al Owais hosted a Sri Lankan diplomatic delegation led by Alexi Gunasekara, Consul General of Sri Lanka, and Subhasini Silva, Head of Chancery in Consulate of Sri Lanka. The meeting also included Mohammed Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Abdul Aziz Al Shamsi and Dr. Fatima Khalifa Al Muqarrab, reflecting institutional support on the Sharjah side.

Al Owais emphasised that the Sharjah Chamber seeks deeper collaboration with Sri Lanka in strategic sectors. These areas include renewable energy, food security and logistics, which are also important for regional supply chains. Sri Lankan companies were encouraged to use Expo Centre Sharjah’s flagship commercial events as a base to access the GCC, Middle East and wider international markets.

During the Sri Lanka discussions, both sides reviewed preparations for upcoming economic events and planned official visits. Expected visitors include the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and the Minister of Trade, alongside business leaders from both countries. The Sri Lankan Consul General invited the Sharjah Chamber to head a business delegation to Sri Lanka to explore partnerships in textiles, gemstones and other essential commercial sectors.

Sharjah Chamber economic cooperation and investment partnerships frameworks

On the Nepal track, the two sides agreed to create a framework for exchanging information on major trade exhibitions. The Sharjah Chamber shared the Expo Centre Sharjah 2026 events agenda with the Nepalese delegation. In return, the President of FNCCI invited the Sharjah Chamber to attend the FNCCI Annual General Meeting in April in Nepal, to further strengthen institutional links.

Across both Nepalese and Sri Lankan engagements, Tej Bahadur Chhetri and Alexi Gunasekara commended the Sharjah Chamber’s role in supporting bilateral economic relations. Gunasekara underlined Sharjah’s importance as a key gateway for Sri Lankan products to access international markets. The combined initiatives aim to expand trade flows, encourage joint investments and help companies from all three countries engage more closely in priority sectors.

With inputs from WAM