Sharjah Chamber And Kerala Explore Economic Cooperation For Enhanced Trade Relations

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) recently engaged in discussions with Kerala, India, to explore cooperation in key economic sectors. The focus was on enhancing international commercial arbitration to improve the investment climate and boost trade between Sharjah and Kerala. This meeting took place at SCCI's headquarters, attended by Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI, and P. Rajeeve, Kerala's Minister for Law, Industries, and Coir.

During the meeting, both parties discussed strengthening ties in economy, industry, and tourism. They stressed leveraging existing UAE-India partnerships to enhance trade relations and support collaboration in priority sectors. The meeting also aimed at increasing interactions between investors from both regions to share expertise and explore joint investment opportunities.

P. Rajeeve invited the SCCI Chairman and members to the Invest Kerala Global Summit 2025. This event is scheduled for February 21-22 at Lulu Bolgatty International Convention Centre. Abdallah Sultan Al Owais praised the growing UAE-India relations, emphasizing Sharjah Chamber's commitment to expanding economic cooperation with India.

Al Owais highlighted the strong strategic partnership between the UAE and India. He noted that the UAE ranks as India's third-largest global trading partner. Non-oil foreign trade between these nations reached $53.8 billion in the first ten months of 2024, a 22.6% increase from the same period in 2023.

The Emirate of Sharjah and Kerala offer significant economic opportunities. Al Owais stated that this meeting was crucial for unifying efforts to expand joint ventures between their business communities. It also aimed to leverage mutual events to showcase investment advantages in both regions.

A notable event is the "Come on Kerala" exhibition at Expo Centre Sharjah, one of the largest Indian trade festivals in the Middle East. The meeting also examined laws fostering economic growth in both regions, highlighting advanced legislative frameworks that attract foreign investment.

Focus on Arbitration Initiatives

The Sharjah Chamber highlighted initiatives by the Sharjah International Commercial Arbitration Centre "Tahkeem." These efforts aim to advance arbitration understanding among legal experts globally. The Centre plays a vital role in resolving commercial disputes through seminars, training programs, and international conferences.

Both sides acknowledged their legislative frameworks' role in attracting foreign investments across all sectors. They emphasized creating an environment conducive to business establishment and investment activities.

This collaboration aims to enhance cooperation between Sharjah and Kerala by promoting joint ventures that benefit both business communities. By focusing on shared interests, they seek to elevate trade volumes matching their potential.

With inputs from WAM