The trade mission organised by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) to Uganda and Kenya, which ran from November 6 to 10, successfully met its strategic objectives to expand the international reach of Chamber members, cultivate economic relations between the business communities of the UAE and friendly nations, and reinforce the Chamber’s role in boosting trade between Sharjah and East African countries.

The trade mission, in its second iteration, was able to play an important part in advancing the network of international relations between the Sharjah, Kenya, and Uganda business communities by organising two forums on its tour stops and coordinating over 300 bilateral business meetings between UAE companies and their Kenyan and Ugandan counterparts. Several representatives of Sharjah industrial and commercial enterprises who were part of the delegation commented on the mission’s importance and noted that it served as an ideal business platform, allowing them to promote their products and discover promising new markets in East Africa. Through the trade mission, they were also able to enhance prospects for joint cooperation with fellow Ugandan and Kenyan businessmen, work on developing investment opportunities, make trade deals, and sign contracts.

The SCCI delegation was headed by H.E. Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the SCCI. Other notable participants included Mohammed Rashid Al Dimas and Ali Obaid Al Zaabi, members of the SCCI board of directors, Abdulaziz Mohammed Shattaf, Assistant Director-General of the Communication and Business Sector at the Sharjah Chamber, Ibrahim Rashid Al Jarwan, Director of Economic Relations and Marketing at SCCI, and Jamal Saeed Buzangal, Director of the Media Department at the Chamber. Also taking part in the mission were Lamya Al Jasmi, Head of Export Services and Market Management at the Sharjah Exports Development Centre, Sultan Al Ali, Senior Executive of Export Services and Market Management, and several representatives of industrial, manufacturing, and service companies in Sharjah.

H.E. Abdullah Sultan Al Owais said the trade mission’s success was a culmination of the Sharjah Chamber’s groundbreaking efforts to consolidate and develop commercial ties, as well as explore mutual investment opportunities with the business communities of various UAE-friendly countries. This, in turn, opens new doors for partnerships and for the development of the SCCI’s services in a way that enhances the Chamber’s reputation among global counterparts and achieves for it a broader representation in local business communities across the world, facilitating trade.

The trade mission, H.E. Al Owais said, is a valuable addition to the series of official visits and trade delegations spearheaded by the Sharjah Chamber to various African nations over the past few years. Combined with Sharjah’s consistent endeavours to expand the scope of its business partnerships around the world, these missions have contributed to boosting the UAE’s economic and commercial ties with several African countries.

For his part, Abdulaziz Mohammed Shattaf highlighted the importance of the mission and the extensive business meetings and forums organised during the five-day visit. The trade mission provided a key platform for Sharjah companies and institutions to learn about economic and investment opportunities and new arenas of cooperation in Kenya and Uganda, enabling them to develop their businesses and cement their place in new markets. This is not to mention its role in promoting investment opportunities and incentives in the UAE in general and Sharjah in particular by shedding light on the Emirate’s rich and attractive business ecosystem and the facilities the Chamber offers to foreign investors.

Several businessmen and representatives of local industrial and commercial establishments taking part in the delegation praised the SCCI for successfully organising the visit to Uganda and Kenya, highlighting the positive outcomes that came as a fruit of the numerous business meetings.

Notably, a representative of the National Marine Dredging Company commented on how the mission allowed his company to explore promising Kenyan and Ugandan investment opportunities in the fields of engineering, construction, and marine dredging.

Likewise, a representative of Adriatic Kitchens said the trade mission served as a valuable platform for the company to hold meetings with businessmen and workers operating in the kitchen industry, exchanging expertise and experience. Through the mission, Adriatic Kitchens was also able to build relationships with companies in the woodworking, accessories, and chemical industries, which are used in the kitchens industry.

A representative of Sofiscape Real Estate said that, while participating in the delegation, his company was pleased to present its current and future projects to investors, as well as exchange knowledge and experience.

Meanwhile, a representative of Waves World, which specialises in telecommunications technology, said the mission provided a key opportunity for the company to showcase its telecommunications services and technical solutions, as well as explore cooperation with Ugandan and Kenyan companies working in the field, strengthening its existing partnerships.

During the first stop of the trade mission, the Sharjah-Kenya Business Forum was held in Nairobi. The forum focused on showcasing investment opportunities in Sharjah and Kenya, exploring means of enhancing cooperation, forging new partnerships that serve the private sector, and meeting aspirations to increase trade volume and establish enterprises in diverse sectors. On its second stop in the Ugandan capital Kampala, the trade mission took part in the Sharjah-Uganda Business Forum, which highlighted promising avenues for both sides to enhance their economic partnership. The forum also encouraged the two sides to expand areas of trade and investment cooperation and establish new connections between the two business communities.