At an award event held in the Chamber’s HQ on Thursday, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) and Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD) honoured their employees, who were part of the successful electronic merging process between the two sides, which saw all transaction inquiries related to SCCI’s membership merged through one unified procedure for companies and businessmen interested in obtaining commercial registration in SEDD. 

During the event, H.E. Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI, and H.E. Sultan Abdullah bin Hadda Al Suwaidi, Chairman of Sharjah Economic Development Department, presented certificates of appreciation to the esteemed employees.

The recent merging operation comes in line with the overall ongoing digital transformation process that aim to facilitating and providing various channels to expedite the handling all inquiries and transactions, and in support to the local economy and for achievement of sustainable development in the emirate.

The merger was an implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that was signed between the two sides earlier this year.  The MoU stated both parties to coordinate and cooperate and introduce practical facilities to the Business Sector for serving and strengthening the Economy of the Emirate of Sharjah.  According to the MoU, a specialized technical committee, which comprises members from both sides, was formed for studying the services where both can cooperate and outlining the procedures to be executed to facilitate workflow for companies and businesses. As a result, this would expedite the processing of inquiries and setting up one unified shared data base between the two bodies.    

This service, which became effective earlier this month, allows interested clients to receive membership directly in SCCI when they submit their paper work requirements for obtaining commercial registration (CR).  With their CRs, clients can perform their commercial activities in the emirate when they submit their inquiry, complete associated procedures, pay their fees all at once through one unified e-gate. 

H.E. Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI Chairman said: “We aim from launching one unified system between the chamber and SEDD to introduce an excellent customer service to clients from companies, corporation and individuals so they can submit their inquiries, complete their transactions and pay their dues from the one unified e-gate.  This comes in line with the Government of Sharjah’s keenness in facilitating and easing government inquiries and working on strengthening mutual cooperation among all government bodies in order to provide more efficient services.  This contributes in consolidating the business environment and positioning the status of Sharjah as a primal destination for attracting investments and boosting economic flow in the emirate with its outlook for higher and better standards.”    

Al Owais pointed out “this service was provided in the past when renewing the commercial registration only, but now and in addition to renewal, new clients will be granted membership when submitting a request for a new CR at SEDD,” underscoring SCCI’s keenness toward dedicated and continuous work efforts to develop its services, and contribute into executing the chamber’s strategic objectives in sustaining the confidence of members through the introduction of quality-oriented and smart services. 

Al Owais expressed the chamber’s aspiration to continuously improve the quality of services to clients, including smart and e-services, through looking for innovative and advanced approaches that would develop services to fellow members of the chamber from the business sector in Sharjah.  The chamber looks to further exploiting modern technology to establish unified shared data base between SCCI and SEDD and benefit from best applied practices that adapt to the role the chamber plays in offering facilities, services and cope with ongoing developments to boost the chamber’s competitiveness in performance, provide all the kinds of technical facilities for clients through adopting technical developments and use best means to reach set objectives. 

H.E. Sultan Abdullah bin Hadda Al Suwaidi, Chairman of Sharjah Economic Development Department said: “This new initiative comes as an execution for directives from HH Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to introduce government services at the easiest and fastest possible ways and with the framework of consolidating coordination and cooperation among government departments and bodies in Sharjah to provide the best services to  companies, traders and clients, boost and develop trade in the emirate and offer an attractive investment environment for the business sector from around the world. 

Al Suwaidi emphasized on the importance of consolidating mutual cooperation among the various working bodies in the emirate for serving the economy’s sectors, providing services that strengthen the business environment, facilitating government inquiries and improving clients and partners’ loyalty and satisfaction by adopting best practices in procedures, performance development for an attractive business environment.

H.E. Khalid Bin Butti Al Hajri Director-General of the SCCI hailed the outcome of the joint efforts between the chamber and SEDD in taking the merge to its final phases and completing successfully in a unified system between the two bodies.  Such merge comes within the overall electronic transformation the chamber is conducting with all concerned parties in the Emirate of Sharjah, since it will contribute in facilitating and conducting the mechanisms of the business sector in the emirate, said Al Hajri. 

SCCI launched the unified system successfully where it was received positively by companies and traders whom hailed such move that would facilitate and expedite their inquiries and save them money and time.