Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) discussed with the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) ways to enhance cooperation between the two sides to develop the exhibitions and conferences industry in Sharjah and enhancing the skills of the human resources working in the industry.

Recently HE Abdullah Al Oweis, Chairman of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and Chairman of Expo Center Sharjah and Mr. David Dubois, President and CEO of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events, discussed a number of issues that support efforts to promote the exhibitions sector and enhance the emirate's presence on the international exhibitions map.

Al Oweis stressed Sharjah Chamber’s keenness to develop the exhibitions industry in all forms and to improve its performance and services for this sector’s importance in supporting the various economic sectors within the emirate's diversification policy in addition to supporting the business community, enhancing business tourism, increasing occupancy rates of hotels and activating commercial activities.

Al Oweis pointed out that Sharjah Chamber is sparing no efforts in enhancing Expo Center’s reputation as one of the leading institutions operating under its umbrella and to consolidate its standing on the map of the busy exhibitions centers to remain a milestone in the field of organizing some of the most important economic and cultural exhibitions in the region, in line with the wise vision of our leadership.

For his part HE Saif Mohammed Al Midfaa gave a presentation on Expo Center’s agenda and activities and the great expertise in organizing the most the important commercial, economic, cultural and educational events in the region, the strong support received by the Center from the wise leadership of Sharjah, and he pointed out that support for the exhibitions sector in the UAE has resulted in gaining a leading role in organizing and hosting more than 50% exhibitions and conferences across the Middle East and Africa region.

Al Midfaa pointed out that reports and studies confirm the growth rate of exhibition tourism in the UAE alone by 7%, thanks to the rapid preparations for the organization of Expo 2020, as the sector generates 2.39 billion dirhams per year for the national economy and this figure is expected to grow to 5.1 billion dirhams by 2020.