LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Opportunities for British citizens to invest in Sharjah was the theme of a major business forum held in London yesterday. Organised by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) under the banner ‘Sharjah Day’, the event aimed to introduce British investors and businesspersons to the fertile investment landscape Sharjah emirate, focusing specifically on the many projects run by Shurooq.
Headed by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Shurooq, the authority’s representatives hosted a day of speeches, presentations, panel discussions and business workshops, with the activities informing them of the opportunities available in Sharjah for investment.
On this occasion, Shekha Bodour said: “In recent years, our trade has grown to be in the billions of dirhams. We believe it will keep growing. However, we measure our success as trade partners not only by the financial return on investment, but also by the impact we have on each other in terms of creating employment opportunities, creating innovation platforms, and creating lasting social impact.”
Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, gave a keynote address, which highlighted Sharjah’s business-friendly environment. Sharing the podium was HE Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO of Shurooq, who gave a brief presentation, outlining Shurooq’s projects and the rewarding returns that the authority can offer potential British investors. Highlighted in particular was the tourism sector, emphasising Shurooq’s unique projects such the Mleiha Archaeological Centre, eco-tourism and Al Majaz Waterfront.
Sharjah Day followed the Shurooq delegation’s previous day’s visit to a number of institutions in the capital where they learned about the various mechanisms that the UK employs to attract investments. Included on the whistle stop tour were the UK Trade and Investment Department, the department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Urban Innovation Centre for Future Cities Catapult and London and Partners.
Commenting on the visit, Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, said; “London is a world-leading financial and business centre and one of the most important cities for attracting foreign investment. Our visits showed us how the country has successfully established an array of organisations that work to enhance its business environment. We will be assessing similar schemes for Sharjah and look forward to attracting more British companies to work in the emirate.”
