Sharjah explores mutual investment opportunities with economic leaders

Sharjah’s recent participation during ‘Web Summit 2023’ in Lisbon, Portugal, served as a platform to showcase its impressive advancements as well as developmental trajectory across diverse economic sectors.

With an audience of over 70,000 participants from 160 nations, the emirate proudly exhibited significant progress in technology, clean energy, innovation, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, and education.

The Sharjah pavilion featured the participation of four key entities, marking a significant presence at the event. This pavilion, led by the Sharjah FDI Office (Invest in Sharjah), showcased the emirate’s collective capabilities and potential. The delegation included the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa), Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP), and Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA).

Within the pavilion, these entities organised several meetings across different sectors, demonstrating the scale of the event and Sharjah’s proactive approach. Representatives from various countries were in attendance, fostering an environment for exchanging experiences and exploring collaborative opportunities. These engagements solidified Sharjah’s position as a catalyst for shaping future economies, with each entity highlighting their efforts, projects, and unique investment opportunities in their respective sectors. This pavilion served as a testament to Sharjah’s growing role in the global economic landscape.

Sharjah has longstanding trade and investment relations with Portugal, evident in 144 Portuguese companies operating in the emirate, including 122 in Sharjah’s free zones. Portugal is also a key partner for Sharjah in export and re-export activities covering a wide range of diverse goods.

As part of Sharjah’s delegation, Najla Al Midfa, CEO of Sheraa, took part in a featured panel session titled “Global Investment Capital,” where she discussed the impact of globalisation on business sectors, with a particular focus on startups that are now more connected to global markets and customers than ever before. She emphasised the importance of entrepreneurial readiness for global changes through a creative and innovative approach. Christophe Lukovich, CXO at Sheraa, shared insights during a panel discussion titled “From R&D to Operation and Custom Programs” at the Leadership Forum within the Web Summit. This forum brought together distinguished business leaders to exchange experiences and delve into the latest economic and institutional approaches to leadership.

Commenting on Sheraa’s presence at the summit, Najla Al Midfa said, “During our participation in Web Summit 2023, we explored the best mechanisms to support entrepreneurs and enhance the incubation environment for SMEs and businesses. We concurred on the global consensus on the importance of entrepreneurship in shaping economic and social change while building a more robust, flexible, and sustainable development economy.”

Al Midfa continued, “Economic globalisation and the communications foray have provided an unprecedented opportunity for entrepreneurs and ambitious individuals to excel and succeed. Today, knowledge sources and learning are readily available, and there is ease in building partnerships and relationships with global business communities to exchange experiences. Sheraa’s participation is focused on monitoring the global economic landscape, sharing the latest experiences in supporting and empowering entrepreneurship, and designing more supportive programmes and strategies for entrepreneurs in our region, helping them actively shape our present and future.”

Hussain Al Mahmoudi, CEO of Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP) said “It is an honour to participate in the Web Summit 2023 in Lisbon through the Sharjah Government Pavilion. Our involvement presented a unique opportunity to showcase the distinctive investment aspects of SRTIP, aimed at promoting its investment advantages and exploring the latest technological developments worldwide.”

“Our team conducted meetings with numerous business leaders and investors in the fields of research, development, and innovation. During these discussions, we delved into the investment opportunities and facilities offered by the park, positioning it as a primary base and launchpad towards regional markets. We also had a chance to highlight the procedures for establishing business projects, competitive advantages, growth prospects, and the strategic location that connects East and West,” the SRTIP CEO stated.

Ali Al Hosani, Director of Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA), noted that the authority’s participation is part of its strategy to showcase Sharjah’s status and accomplishments in the education sector. It also aims to exchange experiences with international participants, achieving the authority’s vision towards a brighter future in private education in Sharjah.