Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Emirates Entrepreneurship Association are looking into building a strategic partnership that involves organising joint forums and training courses to achieve the maximum possible benefits for young entrepreneurs in Sharjah. The partnership would enable entrepreneurs to leverage the Association’s services alongside the training and advisory opportunities that the Chamber offers to the local business community through its various mechanisms and initiatives, including its SME support centre, Tijarah 101, its Youth Council activities, its programmes through the Sharjah Training & Development Centre, and other efforts that aim to develop the efficiency and excellence of the Emirate’s young entrepreneurs.

Discussions on the strategic partnership took place during a meeting held at the Sharjah Chamber, attended by 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 the SCCI, Jamal Saeed Buzangal, Director of the Media Department at the Chamber, and Mona Omran Ali Omran, Director of the SME support centre, Tijarah 101. The delegation from the Emirates Entrepreneurship Association included three board members: Jamal Al Saeedi, Ahmed Al Raisi, and Ahmed Al Dhaheri. The two sides discussed advancing joint efforts that embody the Chamber’s commitment to playing a greater role in advancing the expertise of entrepreneurs when it comes to developing commercial ventures.

Abdulaziz Mohammed Shattaf said that, by building bridges of cooperation with the Emirates Entrepreneurship Association, the Sharjah Chamber is expanding its quality programme offerings for young entrepreneurs and start-up owners. As part of its work in this field, the SCCI provides legal and administrative consultations that empower entrepreneurs to join the labour market armed with confidence and know-how. In addition, the Chamber supports and facilitates their participation in local and international exhibitions and conferences, provides them with opportunities to promote their emerging entrepreneurial ventures, and engages them in international trade missions.

For her part, Mona Omran Ali Omran said the Chamber continues to fulfil its pivotal role in supporting Sharjah’s young entrepreneurs through its programmes and initiatives training them to launch and develop start-ups. A particular force in this endeavour is the SME centre, Tijarah 101, which aims to avail entrepreneurs of support, guidance, and mentoring at the start of their entrepreneurial journeys. In addition, the SCCI provides databases that help connect entrepreneurs with their peers in different world nations, aiding them in bolstering the development of their activities and improving their product and service offerings.

During the meeting, the SCCI highlighted the impact of its support to young entrepreneurs and how this enhances Sharjah’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and boosts the Emirate’s economic growth. The Chamber’s efforts in this sector, combined with those of other concerned entities, have led to the high number of entrepreneurial start-ups and young entrepreneurs in the Emirate, and raised the start-up investment volume.