Sharjah boosts ties with Estonia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) received three high-level delegations from Estonia, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan to discuss ways to strengthen economic and investment cooperation and trade exchange with the Emirate of Sharjah and the UAE business community in general.

In the first meeting, Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman, SCCI, met with Mr. Jaan Reinhold, Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia to the UAE, where the two sides explored prospects of enhancing economic, commercial, and investment ties between the two friendly countries.

Present at the meeting were Mohammed Ahmed Amin Al-Awadi, Director-General, SCCI, and Fatima Al Mokarrab, Director of the Department of International Relations, SCCI.

Jaan Reinhold expressed his interest in boosting the ties between the private business sector in Estonia and Sharjah, stressing his country’s eagerness to foster trade and investment relations with Sharjah.

Reinhold invited the SCCI to take part in the Latvia, Sweden, and Estonia Entrepreneurship Forum, which is set to take place on 19 October, expressing his willingness to establish a business council for Estonia in Sharjah to represent the business community and contribute to enhancing cooperation between the two friendly countries.

The second meeting brought together Abdullah Sultan Al Owais and Madeyar Menelikov, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the country, where the two sides discussed means to foster economic cooperation and joint investments, exchange trade missions, and forge partnerships between the business communities in Sharjah and Kazakhstan.

During the meeting, Al Owais stressed the depth of the historical relations between the two countries which serve as a driving force towards further joint work at the economic and commercial level between Sharjah and Kazakhstan.

For his part, Madeyar Menelikov expressed his country’s willingness to enhance economic openness to the business sectors in Sharjah.

The SCCI also discussed ways to enhance economic cooperation with the Republic of Uzbekistan during the meeting that brought together Abdullah Sultan Al Owais and Bakhtiyar Ibrahimov, Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the country.

The meeting highlighted the most important competitive economic components the Emirate of Sharjah enjoys and stressed the importance of enhancing bilateral cooperation in the tourism, industrial and agricultural sectors.

The Uzbek Ambassador extended an invitation to the Sharjah Chamber to participate in the celebration of the Uzbek National Day, which takes place on December 8 at the Uzbekistan platform at Expo 2020 Dubai.

For his part, Abdullah Sultan Al Owais said: “Such meetings constitute a significant opportunity to develop strategic relations between the Emirate of Sharjah with various countries, in order to establish more positive cooperation and mutual investment that serves the interests of Sharjah business community.

Al Owais referred to the importance of these meetings in introducing new opportunities to investors and businessmen, promoting the investment climate in the emirate, and establishing solid economic relations that support the flow of trade exchange and economic cooperation with these friendly countries.

Sharjah’s trade mission to Russia concluded its work recently by holding several meetings with officials from representatives of government agencies and private companies in Saint Petersburg.

The mission, which is part of Sharjah Week in Russia from Sept. 6-12 was led by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) represented by the Sharjah Exports Development Center (SCCI).

The last stop was in Saint Petersburg, where Abdullah Sultan Al Owais met with Arabi Abubakarov, Deputy Chairman of the International Relations Committee, Konstantin Sokhenko, Chairman of the Culture Committee, and representatives of the Committee on Industrial Policies, Innovations, and Trade in St. Petersburg.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed several topics of mutual interest and emphasized the need to double efforts to restructure laws and regulations that spur investment, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.

They also highlighted the importance of enhancing cultural cooperation between Sharjah and Saint Petersburg by strengthening the communication between relevant government institutions and bodies. In the meantime, the Sharjah Chamber invited Saint Petersburg to participate as a guest of honor in the 50th Watch & Jewelry Middle East and Show (WJMES) which is set to take place in April 2022.

The participants also agreed to develop a mechanism for exchanging information, visits and trade delegations, especially small and medium companies in order to support this vital sector. Abdullah Sultan Al Owais shed light on the tourist, cultural and economic factors, and the investment climate of the Emirate of Sharjah, in addition to the so many competitive advantages which makes Sharjah an ideal environment for Russian businessmen, not to mention its strategic location which makes it an important gateway to various countries in the region.