Sharjah Teams Up With RUWAD To Elevate Fisheries Sector

The Sharjah Fish Resources Authority recently met with the Sharjah Foundation to Support Pioneering Entrepreneurs (RUWAD), affiliated with the Sharjah Economic Development Department. The meeting aimed to discuss ways to support national entrepreneurial projects in the fisheries sector and launch organised awareness and media programmes to enhance the promotion of their production resources in the market.

Ali Ahmed Ali Abu Ghazin, Chairman of the Sharjah Fish Resources Authority, welcomed the RUWAD delegation. He highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts and institutional resources to activate citizen-managed projects in the fisheries sector. Abu Ghazin praised RUWAD’s role in developing and empowering small and medium-sized Emirati projects across various sectors in Sharjah.

Abu Ghazin outlined the authority's vision and goals aimed at preserving and developing the emirate’s fishery resources. He emphasised contributing to food security, revitalising and advancing the fishing profession, and supporting local cooperative markets by selling fishing materials at competitive prices. He also stressed providing all available support to fishermen and their activities across the emirate.

Hamad Ali Abdullah Al Mahmoud, Chairman of the Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD), attended the meeting along with several officials from both parties. Al Mahmoud stressed RUWAD’s commitment to harnessing all its services and programmes to expand the participation of fisheries sector projects in supporting the emirate's GDP and developing its growing economy.

Al Mahmoud explained that they have adopted new support paths for small and medium-sized projects in industry, agriculture, fisheries, and environmental projects. This approach aims at achieving sustainable food security through innovation and sustainability, reflecting Sharjah's leadership in this area.

Support for Fishermen

The attendees discussed possible support methods for fishermen, including allocating training programmes for citizens interested in entering entrepreneurial ventures related to fisheries. This would enable them to establish businesses such as fish farming projects, transport and packaging services, engine and boat maintenance, among other projects.

This initiative aims at providing direct or indirect investment opportunities in this sector, generating significant economic returns for those involved. The discussion also covered aspects of cooperation in developing local regulations governing the fisheries sector.

Promotional Programmes

Both parties agreed on identifying resources produced by cooperative societies to implement promotional and marketing programmes for them. They considered creating networking deals between licensed fishermen as commercial projects with markets, facilitating their access to financing from RUWAD to support project expansion.

This would increase their market share and competitiveness of services and products provided by these fishermen. Additionally, they agreed on forming a joint working group to follow up on implementing the meeting's recommendations and outcomes.

The meeting agenda included discussing prospects for enhancing existing cooperation between both parties. This includes awareness programmes, joint educational initiatives, sharing media materials for publication on social media platforms, and developing local regulations governing the fisheries sector.

This initiative aligns with H.H. Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi's vision emphasising support for the fishing industry. It also aims at aiding fishermen while preserving and developing this vital profession within Sharjah.

With inputs from WAM