Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) held a meeting with the German-Emirati Joint Council for Industry and commerce at the Authority’s headquarters in Al Qasba, during which means of activating joint cooperation in investment between Sharjah and Germany were discussed.
The meeting was attended by Shurooq delegation led by Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO of Shurooq, and included Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, Chief Operations Officer, Elie Armaly, Business Development Manager, and Hazem Sawaf, Marketing and Communication Manager.
The delegation of the German-Emirati Joint Council for Industry and commerce included the Council’s CEO Dr. Goepfrich , Daniela Calligaro, Head of Membership Department and Corporate Development, Anna Uzarowska, Manager Membership Department and Corporate Development, Marc Termath, Manager Business Development Services, and Tanya Bernthaler, Manager Events.
Addressing the meeting, Al Sarkal stressed the deep-rooted economic and commercial relations between the UAE and Germany and called for benefiting from joint agreements signed by both sides, most notably the investment encouragement and protection agreement.
“The UAE is the largest trade partner of Germany in the Arab world, whereas UAE-Germany trade ties have seen continues development, with the volume of trade between both countries amounting to $11 billion in 2011,” Al Sarkal said.
“We seek to explore and identify investment opportunities for German companies and investors in Sharjah, as well as to explore the best ways for both of us to benefit from these opportunities in order to further develop trade ties and create investment partnerships in the near future,” Al Sarkal said.
Al Qaseer gave a detailed presentation on the Authority and its mission of developing investment climate in the emirate, as well as on its role in helping investors find real investment opportunities.”
Armaly highlighted the most important projects that are currently being developed by Shurooq and future projects and investment opportunities available in the emirate’s sectors, notably, Tourism, industry, trade, health and education.
Following the meeting, the delegation toured Shurooq’s landmark projects, namely Al Qasba, which is widely recognized as the premier tourist, cultural, and entertainment destination in Sharjah and the region.
The delegation then headed to Al Majaz Waterfront, Shurooq’s flagship that was opened last year, and then concluded its tour by visiting the Heart of Sharjah project, the largest heritage and tourism in the region.
At the end of the visit, the German-Emirati Joint Council for Industry and commerce praised the great achievements made by Sharjah in various fields, as well as the emirate’s outstanding efforts to develop economy and encourage investment climate, a move that would qualify it to attract more investments and tourists.
The delegation’s head said more meetings would be held to bring viewpoints closer and expand cooperation, noting that the council will collaborate with Shurooq in its mission of promoting Sharjah’s investment opportunities among companies and investors in German in the best interests of all parties.