Sharjah Chamber concludes participation in World Chambers Congress

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, SCCI, concluded its participation in the 10th World Chambers Congress, WCC, held in Sydney, Australia, from 19th to 21st September, by signing a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

This was the SCCI’s fifth participation in a row in the event which saw the attendance of delegations of 12,000 chambers from more than 100 countries. The Congress is a unique international forum for the heads and officials of chambers of commerce around the world to exchange experiences and have open discussions, in order to enhance co-operation among business communities and face common challenges.

The SCCI’s delegation to the biennial Congress, organised by the World Chambers Federation, included Khaled bin Butti Al Hajri, Director-General of the SCCI, Omar Saleh, Director of International Relations, Fatima Khalifa Al Maqrab, Head of the International Cooperation Department and Board Member of the International Chamber in the UAE, and Mai Sultan Bin Heda Al Suwaidi, Executive of Economic Cooperation in the Chamber.

The MoU, which was signed by the Sharjah Chamber and the Australia Arab Chamber on the sidelines of the conference, aims to develop business relations between the two business communities and the members of the two Chambers, providing incentives, facilities and services to exchange information and data.

The Chamber's delegation also met the heads and directors of several chambers, unions and representatives of several international organisations, including the International Chamber of Commerce, the World Chambers Federation, the Union of Gulf Chambers, the London Chamber, the Hamburg Chamber, the Kuwait Chamber and many participants from around the world, as well as members of the diplomatic corps and the UAE Ambassador to Australia.

The SCCI reaffirmed its support to the Dubai Chamber file in hosting the 2021 Congress. The delegation also participated in a workshop held by Dubai Chamber to promote the events and activities of Expo 2020.

Al Hajri highlighted the Chamber’s commitment to participating in such international events, which represent a valuable opportunity to meet heads of international chambers, and enhance the SCCI’s position on the international stage, which supports the fulfilment of its role in supporting its members and developing their commercial relations on a global level.

He pointed out that holding the conference in Sydney was an opportune occasion to meet with officials of the Australian Chambers of Commerce and discuss ways to enhance commercial exchange between Sharjah and Australia, which is the UAE's number 20 trading partner. The value of trade between the UAE and Australia in 2016 was USD$2.8 billion, while mutual investments reached $8.9 billion in the same year.

Al Maqrab said that the Congress was an opportunity to learn about the global economic developments that concern the chambers of commerce and industry in different countries and regions around the world. The event also helped highlight the attractive business environment in Sharjah and the lucrative investment opportunities available in various economic sectors in the emirate.