UAE and Poland review cooperation prospects and bilateral partnerships

Business Bureau, Gulf Today

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) organised on Monday at its headquarters the UAE – Poland Business Forum with the aim of introducing the joint investment opportunities, exploring cooperation prospects and bilateral partnerships in various economic sectors, and paving the way for business communities from both sides to potential discuss investment opportunities.

The forum comes on the side’s lines of a visit by a high-ranking Polish delegation headed by Katarzyna Matuszak, Director, Project Development Department. The Polish delegation comprised over 12 businessmen and representatives of Polish trade companies.

Held in the presence of Mohammad Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, SCCI’s Director-General, Abdulaziz Shattaf, Assistant Director-General for Members Services at SCCI, Director of Sharjah Exports Development Center (SEDC), as well as 25 representatives of private sectors in Sharjah, the forum discussed enhancing cooperation in medical products, healthcare and wood industries, in addition to logistical support in the hotel and tourism sectors, professional lighting and furniture.

Mohammad Ahmed Amin Al Awadi said that organizing this forum constitutes an opportunity for discussing the trade, investment and industrial cooperation between both sides, noting that such meetings are a key pillar in terms of bolstering the private sector in Sharjah and introducing its potentials and competitiveness.

“The forum is also a positive step towards strengthening bilateral relations and reflecting the seriousness of both sides to take the economic cooperation to new heights, as well as establishing new economic partnerships in essential sectors,” added Al Awadi.

He pointed out that Sharjah’s business community is looking forward to establishing successful strategic partnerships with their counterparts abroad. This comes in line with the Emirate of Sharjah’s policy of diversifying the economy and as part of the wise vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the UAE Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.

Such a vision which enhanced Sharjah’s position on the global economic arena and made it a competitive destination to investors around the world, who are aspiring to expand their business in GCC and Middle East markets.

Al Awadi called on Polish businessmen to take advantage of Sharjah’s distinguished investment climate in industry, trade, tourism, medical care, real estate, and logistics, underlining the SCCI’s keenness on providing the investment environment conducive to success and integration into the local labor market.

The SCCI’s Director-General highlighted the competitive advantages the Emirate of Sharjah offers to investors. Such support helps businessmen establish their work and expand to other markets in the region.

He added that the strategic geographical location of the emirate, and the availability of investment opportunities, especially in the sectors of education, culture, trade, logistics, tourism, and industry, in addition to the encouraging legislative environment, and facilities provided to the private sector make the option of investment in Sharjah a rewarding and successful one.

In turn, Katarzyna Matuszak hailed the SCCI’s efforts in organizing this forum, adding that such a meeting forms an important platform towards a promising future of bilateral economic partnerships.

“The Emirate of Sharjah’s business environment is a distinctive and motivational one, thanks to its world-class qualities and great competitiveness. We also have to utilize the deep relations between the UAE and Poland in boosting the commercial and investment ties to pour in the interest of development plans in both countries,” Matuszak noted.

She underscored the commitment of the Polish side to exerting further efforts to bolster the joint economic ties and to harness the full potential to develop these relations, so as to serve the mutual interest and benefit the investment efforts of the private sector.

The forum witnessed the holding bilateral meetings between businessmen from both sides, during which they reviewed the mutual partnerships and cooperation, and discussed investment opportunities available to both sides.

The visiting delegation then toured the permanent exhibition, hailing it as a conducive platform for promoting products and creating opportunities for cooperation between companies and visitors from trade delegation representatives.

Also during the event, the Sharjah Airport International Free Zone (SAIF Zone) showcased-through a presentation-the most prominent privileges and incentives awaiting investors including 100% foreign ownership of businesses, 100 % repatriation of capital and profits, and 100% corporate or personal income tax exemptions, 100% import and export tax exemptions.