Sharjah Chamber welcomes nearly 5,000 new member firms in 2023

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has logged an impressive surge in new memberships this year, registering 4,981 new companies through the end of the third quarter.

With this increase, the Chamber’s main branch and its other branches in Al Dhaid, Khorfakkan, Dibba Al-Hisn, and Kalba now boast a total of 45,373 active members, whose total export and re-export values reached Dhs17 billion through the third quarter of the current year.

The Chamber unveiled these achievements, made in pursuit of its strategic priorities to boost the progress of sustainable economic development in Sharjah, during the sixth regular meeting of the SCCI board. The meeting was headed by Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the SCCI and attended by Waleed Abdul Rahman Bukhatir, Second Vice Chairman of the SCCI Board of Directors, the members of the board, HE Mohammed Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Director-General of the SCCI, Maryam Saif Al Shamsi, the Assistant Director-General for the Support Services Sector at the Sharjah Chamber, and Abdulaziz Mohammed Shattaf, the Assistant Director-General of the Communication and Business Sector at the Chamber.

During the meeting, participants reviewed the SCCI’s key initiatives and achievements in 2023 and discussed several items on the agenda, most notably updates to ongoing projects, such as the dates project workflow plan. The meeting also covered suggestions put forth by the Chamber’s various sectors and the institutions operating under its oversight, the topic of increasing memberships and certificates of origin, and the accomplishments of the new sectoral working groups.

Abdullah Sultan Al Owais said the Chamber’s achievements in 2023 reflect its complete commitment to meeting the strategic goals outlined within its 2022-2024 strategy. These goals include supporting the business sector, promoting positive practices leading to a sustainable economy, developing and diversifying Sharjah exports, managing strategic partnerships to develop a foreign trade exchange system, and attracting investments. During 2023, Al Owais noted, the Chamber has endeavoured to diversify its initiatives while launching top-tier economic and commercial events, programmes, and exhibitions with the aim of promoting the ongoing process of economic development in the Emirate of Sharjah.

For his part, Mohammed Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Director-General of the SCCI, stated that the surge in memberships and certificates of origin since the beginning of the year is a testament to the Chamber’s success in meeting the majority of its 2023 targets. In this regard, the SCCI reported 40,392 membership renewals and 1,674 free zone memberships during the first nine months of 2023, and issued 58,798 certificates of origin. Such statistics reflect Sharjah’s rich investment climate and its position as an attractive destination for entrepreneurs and investors, Al Awadi said.

Abdulaziz Mohammed Shattaf, Assistant Director-General of the Communication and Business Sector at the Chamber, stated that the Chamber’s success in raising both new memberships and renewals is a fruit of efforts to attract investments through comprehensive strategies and plans that have facilitated membership and renewal procedures and provided competitive benefits for members, adding value to their activities. Shattaf also mentioned the superior quality of the Chamber’s integrated smart electronic service system, which meets all the needs and requirements of the business community while enabling investors to complete remote transactions smoothly and easily, in line with the highest international standards and practices.

During the meeting, the board was briefed on the performance of SSCI branches in the Eastern and Central Regions. Participants reviewed the positive outcomes of festivals and events organised by the Chamber to bolster the two regions’ economic, commercial, and cultural sectors. They also discussed how these events incentivise businessmen, encouraging them to spearhead competitive development enterprises and take advantage of the promising, dynamic investment opportunities available in cities across those regions.

Separately, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department (SRERD) announced recently that the preparations are ongoing to launch a new edition of the Sharjah Real Estate Exhibition (ACRES 2024), which will be hosted by Expo Centre Sharjah from 17th-20th January, 2024.

Moreover, organisers stated that they are keen to present a distinctive and innovative version in all aspects, display the latest developments and trends, and acquaints investors and those interested in the real estate sector with the opportunities available for investment in Sharjah and the UAE. In addition, they expressed their eagerness to continue attracting the most important companies in the field of investment, construction, and real estate development, and including diverse events presented by an elite group of experts and specialists to review the features of the real estate market, and highlight the opportunities offered by this sector.