Sharjah Chamber Concludes Trade Mission To India, Strengthening Economic Ties

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), through its Sharjah Exports Development Centre (SEDC), recently wrapped up a trade mission to India. This mission included several business meetings with key economic officials in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. These discussions occurred alongside the Business Forum organised by the Sharjah Chamber, marking the mission's second stop.

The forum aimed to explore opportunities for enhancing economic partnerships and fostering industrial and investment collaboration between Emirati and Indian private sectors. Attendees included Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI; Waleed AbdelRahman BuKhatir, Second Vice Chairman of SCCI; Jamal Mohamed Sultan Binhuwaidin, SCCI Board Member; and other chamber staff. Business leaders from both regions participated as well.

The event's agenda featured B2B meetings and presentations on investment prospects in Sharjah and Ahmedabad. Emphasis was placed on Sharjah’s investor-friendly environment, world-class infrastructure, and incentives. The chamber highlighted its support services designed to help entrepreneurs expand their global market presence.

In his keynote speech, Al Owais emphasised that the forum is part of ongoing efforts to bolster economic ties between the UAE and India. He noted India's exports to the UAE reached approximately US$37.1 billion in 2024. Additionally, India emerged as the top destination for UAE’s non-oil exports, accounting for 13.5% of total exports with a 75.2% growth compared to 2023.

Al Owais stated, "Through this mission, we aim to convert this positive momentum into fruitful partnerships between the business communities of the UAE and India in general, and between Sharjah and Ahmedabad in particular, thereby enhancing economic and investment collaboration to support joint growth."

Investment Opportunities in Sharjah

Sharjah is positioned as a prime investment destination for Indian businesses, with over 20,000 Indian companies headquartered there. This reflects growing investor confidence in Sharjah’s business environment. Al Owais also highlighted Ahmedabad's strategic importance as an industrial powerhouse in India.

Ahmedabad's stakeholders can benefit from Sharjah’s advanced industrial base, which hosts over 35% of the UAE’s manufacturing facilities. This offers significant potential for collaboration between both regions' industries.

On-Site Visits and Future Collaborations

Concluding their visit to India, the SCCI delegation visited several economic institutions in Ahmedabad. These visits provided insights into local business activities and services offered by these institutions. Discussions focused on potential cooperation areas, industrial integration, expertise exchange, and best practice adoption.

These interactions aim to establish investment partnerships that benefit both sides' interests. The mission underscores the commitment to strengthening ties between Sharjah and Ahmedabad while supporting mutual economic growth through collaborative efforts across various sectors.

With inputs from WAM