ملتقى الأعمال بين الشارقة والإسكندرية يستعرض آفاق التعاون والشراكات الاستثمارية الثنائية

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry held the Sharjah – Alexandria Business Forum at its headquarters, which was organized in cooperation with the Alexandria Businessmen Association and is aimed at introducing investment opportunities and consolidating mutual commercial relations, and bringing together businessmen with their counterparts to discuss cooperation and investment opportunities. The Forum was attended by HE Dr. Sultan Al Mulla, board member, HE Mohamed Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Director General, Dr. Abdel Moneim Hafez, Board Vice Chairman of the Alexandria Businessmen Association, and Abdel Aziz Mohamed Shattaf, Assistant Director General for the Member Services Sector and Director of the Sharjah Export Development Center, Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Director of the Economic Relations and Marketing Department, Mohammed Juma'a Al Musharrkh, CEO of the Sharjah FDI Office at the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority "Shurooq", and Sultan Shattaf, Director of Sales and Marketing at the Expo Center Sharjah, and Ali Al-Mutawa, commercial relations executive at the Sharjah Airport International Free Zone Authority, as well as officials from local government departments and agencies, and private sector representatives for Sharjah and Alexandria. Memorandum of Understanding Activated HE Al-Awadi called for the reactivation of a 2007 Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Chamber and the Alexandria Businessmen Association and to continue to advance the existing economic, commercial and investment relations, noting that UAE investments in Egypt have exceeded $7 billion, while the number of Egyptian companies established in Sharjah has reached 2400 companies, and the UAE comes first in terms of acquiring total Egyptian exports among Arab countries with an approximate total of Dh7.3 billion, making up 21% of all Egyptian exports to Arab countries. A Step in the Right Direction For his part, Dr. Abdel Moneim Hafez thanked the United Arab Emirates and Sharjah Chamber for organizing this Forum, stressing the depth of ties between Egypt and the UAE and the forum as a step in the right direction towards more strong and distinguished bilateral relations in various fields that enhance economic ties and develop the business communities. Dr Abdel Moneim invited the Chamber’s affiliate members and UAE investors and businessmen to visit Alexandria to learn about the facilities available for industrial, economic, tourism and investment activities, especially in real estate, in addition to the petrochemical industry, noting that 40% of the Egyptian industries sector in the fields of petroleum, transport services and logistics are located in metropolitan Alexandria. The Forum included presentations by participants showcasing key investment opportunities, as Mohammed Juma'a Al Musharrkh, CEO of the Sharjah FDI Office, reviewed a number of economic and vital sectors that provide promising investment opportunities in the emirate such as tourism and entertainment, transport and supply services, health care, environment and education, light industries, in addition to major current development projects, with incentives and facilities being provided to capitalists wishing to invest. Sultan Shattaf of Expo Center Sharjah reviewed the advantages and services provided by the Center to exhibitors as a vital international platform that enables companies to display their products and services, meet the appropriate partners, expand their businesses and open new markets, and introduced the members of the Alexandria Businessmen Association to the Center’s strategic location and regional and international activities. The meeting concluded with both sides presenting each other with honorary shields and holding bilateral meetings between businessmen, discussing partnerships, cooperation and mutual coordination and the available investment opportunities while the visiting delegation toured the Permanent Exhibition that promotes local products and creates cooperation opportunities between companies and representatives of trade delegations.