Sharjah And Mexico Explore Strategic Investment Opportunities In Key Sectors

The UAE and Mexico are set to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic ties in 2025. In anticipation, the Sharjah FDI Office (Invest in Sharjah) and the Mexican Business Council organised the ‘Sharjah-Mexico Business Roundtable’ at the House of Wisdom. This event aimed to explore strategic growth opportunities in sectors like SME financing, logistics, real estate, and automotive manufacturing, highlighting Sharjah's investment potential for Mexican businesses.

During the event, Luis Alfonso de Alba, Mexico's Ambassador to the UAE, emphasised the roundtable's significance as a precursor to their golden jubilee. He noted Sharjah's pivotal role in strengthening UAE-Mexico relations. "Sharjah has played a key role in strengthening the relationship between Mexico and the UAE," he stated, citing Sharjah’s participation as the guest of honour at the 2022 Guadalajara International Book Fair as a cultural milestone.

A panel discussion titled "Why Sharjah? Opportunities Beyond Borders" was held during the roundtable. Participants explored Sharjah’s competitive advantages and sectoral growth opportunities. They reaffirmed their commitment to innovation, sustainable growth, and cross-regional investment. The dialogue highlighted Sharjah's appeal due to its regulatory reforms and business-friendly environment.

Mohamed Al Musharrkh, CEO of Invest in Sharjah, echoed optimism about future collaborations. He recalled his visit to Central America with an official UAE delegation in 2018–2019. Al Musharrkh highlighted that over 45 Mexican companies operate in Sharjah, with imports from Mexico reaching 7 million dirhams in 2024. "Sharjah and Mexico may be miles apart, but our ambitions are aligned," he said.

Rafael Villalona from the Mexican Business Council noted their first anniversary soon and discussed Mexican enterprise growth in the UAE. "UAE-Mexico bilateral trade has doubled in recent years, reaching $2.5 billion in 2023," he stated. Villalona identified construction, automotive, and agriculture as priority sectors for further collaboration.

Khaleefa Al Hosani from Emirates Development Bank outlined financial mechanisms supporting businesses through tailored loan programs and credit guarantees for SMEs. "Sharjah’s business and investment ecosystem is a launchpad for scalable ventures," he stated. The bank is committed to fostering innovation in manufacturing and renewable energy sectors.

Sector-Specific Insights

Alef Group CEO Issa Ataya highlighted Sharjah’s real estate sector's growth with a 31.9% increase in transactions worth AED 13.2 billion ($3.6 billion) in Q1 2025. Regulatory reforms allowing full foreign property ownership contributed to this surge. Ataya emphasised Alef Group’s projects like Hayyan and Al Mamsha as models for international investors.

Sergio De La Vega of Supercool shared insights on sustainable efforts within his company. "We have a strong focus on innovation in energy and mobility," he said, noting that the UAE is a global leader in energy with significant solar farms and storage technologies.

Logistical Advantages

Tirso Fidalgo Arias from Metatron highlighted Sharjah’s strategic importance as a logistical hub for operations between Mexico and China. Shipping times from Mexico to China can be reduced significantly by operating from the UAE.

Chef Shaw Lash of Lila Taqueria discussed how Mexican gastronomy can foster partnerships within agriculture by sourcing produce from organic farms locally. This demonstrates potential collaboration opportunities between both regions' agricultural sectors.

The roundtable concluded with participants expressing confidence about future collaborations by leveraging synergies across high-potential sectors while fostering private-sector dialogue aimed at transcontinental collaboration defined by innovation, resilience, and mutual prosperity.

With inputs from WAM