The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) called for the need to activate the role of business councils in the country and for developing communication between members of the various business councils and the business community at large due to their prominent economic and commercial roles of society. The SCCI has confirmed that cooperation between the chambers of commerce and the business councils helps to enable the different sectors of the business community to effectively interact and communicate with the government sector.

The recommendation came during the 2nd edition of the Business Councils Meeting, which was hosted by the SCCI at its headquarter on Monday, in conjunction with the field tour that was organized by the Chamber for the heads and members of the business councils. The Meeting and accompanying tour was attended by H.E Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the SCCI; Khalid Bin Butti Al Hajri, Director-General of the SCCI; a number of the SCCI Board members; and most of the heads and representatives of the Business Councils in the country.

/During the meeting that included the heads and representatives of more than 25 business councils from other various countries, the Chamber urged the establishment of a mechanism for cooperation between the various business councils from all over the country, as well as between the SCCI and other chambers of commerce through the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce & Industry, in order to share and exchange ideas that help to benefit the business sector.

H.E Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the SCCI, stressed the Chamber's keenness to communicate with the heads and representatives of the business councils in the UAE, in order to exchange views with them on the ways of developing and enhancing economic and investment relations between Sharjah and other friendly countries, and brief them on the various cultural developments that are taking place in Sharjah. The developments include being chosen as the World Book Capital of 2019 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which is the result of the various cultural and educational projects and events that are organized in Sharjah, such as the Sharjah International Book Fair.

Khalid Bin Butti Al Hajri, Director-General of the SCCI, said that the organization of the Business Councils Meeting aims to strengthen cooperation with the business councils of various friendly countries, which helps to enhance partnerships with foreign businesspeople and investors. He added that the total number of members of the SCCI reached 79,925 members at the end of 2017, which represented a growth rate of 9.1% compared to the number of SCCI members in 2016. He pointed out that the Chamber is considered the link between both the private and the government sectors that aims to support the business sector in order to build a sustainable economy that depends on creativity and innovation.

The Chamber organized a panel discussion during the meeting, where the participants discussed the future of Sharjah’s various sectors.
Representatives and heads of the business councils reviewed the roles, projects and future plans of their institutions. Participants also praised the opportunities offered by the emirate to investors in the sectors of health care, industry, environment, tourism, transport, entertainment, logistics, education and others.

After the meeting, the Chamber organized a field tour for the heads and members of the business councils. The tour visited landmarks throughout Sharjah that reflect the city’s cultural, academic, and economic characteristics. During the tour, participants learned about the Emirate’s latest projects that aim to shape the future of the business sector and promote Sharjah’s status as a leading center for establishing and practicing business at the regional level.