Sharjah Chamber Discusses Cooperation With China To Boost Private Sector Investments

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) recently held a pivotal meeting with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) representative office for the Gulf region. This significant gathering aimed to discuss and enhance cooperation and mutual investments between Sharjah and China's business communities. The discussions were rich, covering a broad spectrum of opportunities for collaboration among entrepreneurs, investors, and businesses across various sectors.

Key areas of focus during the meeting included infrastructure, renewable energy, logistics, tourism, and construction sectors. Both parties expressed a keen interest in boosting the exchange of information between private sector representatives and intensifying efforts to host joint trade exhibitions. The meeting, hosted at the SCCI’s headquarters, saw Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber, warmly receiving Chao Lian, the new principal representative of CCPIT in the Gulf region, along with his delegation.

One of the highlights of the meeting was the official invitation extended to Al Owais by CCPIT to participate in the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), slated for November 2024. This expo is expected to feature over 160 companies from both China and abroad, showcasing the depth of potential collaboration between the two regions.

Furthermore, discussions veered towards exploring potential avenues for cooperation between Sharjah and China's business communities. The emphasis was on fostering partnerships and coordination among investors to create new business opportunities. The Sharjah Chamber took this opportunity to showcase its services to the Chinese counterpart, highlighting the importance of developing cooperation in private sector development across both countries.

The two sides also discussed efforts to host Chinese events and exhibitions at the UAE’s Expo Centre Sharjah (ECS). The Sharjah Chamber extended an invitation to the Chinese private sector to participate in these events, noting ECS's role in featuring various specialized Chinese exhibitions and offering attractive incentives to participants.

Al Owais highlighted the robust historical and strategic ties between the UAE and China, pointing out that Sharjah has become a key example of growing investment cooperation between the two nations. He noted that over 700 Chinese companies are hosted in Sharjah, including 472 operating within the emirate and 245 in free zones. These companies play a significant role in contributing to Sharjah's economic development by leveraging its conducive investment environment, facilitative policies, and diverse opportunities available for investors.

The Chinese delegation praised the vital role played by the Sharjah Chamber in enhancing trade and economic ties between the two countries at a private sector level. They affirmed CCPIT’s determination to explore key business and trade sectors in Sharjah and exchange further insights regarding investment prospects. This includes arranging visits for Chinese entrepreneurs to Sharjah and deliberating on potential new Chinese enterprises joining those already operating in Sharjah and its free zones across various industrial, commercial, and service sectors.

This meeting underscores a mutual commitment to strengthening economic cooperation and exploring new investment opportunities between Sharjah and China. It sets a positive tone for future collaborations that could significantly benefit both regions' business landscapes.

With inputs from WAM