Sharjah Chamber, Uzbekistan explore ties

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has affirmed its commitment to enhancing economic cooperation, boosting joint investments, reinforcing partnerships and fostering trade missions between the business community in Sharjah and its counterpart in Uzbekistan.

These include organising joint events and business forums that bring together entrepreneurs and businessmen from both sides to explore key investment opportunities and enhance collaboration between investors.

These remarks were made during a meeting held at SCCI’s headquarters between Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI, and Abdulaziz Akkulov, Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the UAE.

The meeting was attended by Abdul Aziz Al Shamsi, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Business Sector in SCCI; Fatema Khalifa Al Muqarrab, Director of International Relations Department at SCCI, and Mai Abdullah Bin Haddah Al Suwaidi, Head of Partnerships and International Cooperation at SCCI, as well as senior officials from both sides.

During the meeting, both sides discussed ways to strengthen partnerships and fuel growth in trade exchanges between the two countries. Discussions also delved into prospects for enhancing communication channels to organise joint events and facilitate reciprocal visits of business delegations.

These initiatives aim to introduce the business communities of Sharjah and Uzbekistan to the investment advantages in both countries, encouraging entrepreneurs to capitalise on available opportunities across various sectors and establish joint ventures.

The Sharjah Chamber also extended an invitation to the Uzbekistan delegation to participate in key upcoming events, including the Middle East Watch & Jewelry Show and Expo Culinaire at Expo Centre Sharjah.

Abdallah Sultan Al Owais warmly welcomed the Uzbekistan delegation, emphasising the robust and expanding economic relations between the UAE and Uzbekistan.

Bilateral relations between the two countries are witnessing continuous development, as the UAE-Uzbekistan non-oil foreign trade recorded a significant 104 percent growth with its value totaling $993 million in 2022, as compared to $487 million in 2021. The UAE’s non-oil exports to Uzbekistan during this period totaled USD 92 million, with a growth rate of 190 percent compared to 2021.

Al Owais noted that the promising outcomes witnessed in the UAE-Uzbekistan trade relations provide a solid foundation for pushing the economic and trade cooperation between the friendly countries forward and maximising the benefits of the diverse investment opportunities available on both sides.

He affirmed that Sharjah Chamber stands ready to provide comprehensive support to Uzbek companies interested in exploring investment opportunities in Sharjah. He also underscored the importance of organising bilateral meetings and opening more communication channels between businessmen and investors in both nations.

The meeting highlighted the significance of promoting reciprocal visits between private sector representatives from both the UAE and Uzbekistan, in addition to fostering collaboration to broaden the scope of joint ventures between the two business communities. They also emphasised the need to organise joint events to showcase the investment opportunities available in both countries.