Sharjah Economic Development Department “SEDD” in cooperation with Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology “MoIAT” organized “Future of Industry Dialogue” meeting in the presence of a number of competent government agencies and officials and investors in the industrial sector in UAE and Sharjah.

During the opening speech, HE Hamad Ali Abdalla Al Mahmoud, SEDD, welcomed the attendees, stressing the strategic partnership between the Department and the Ministry, to enhance mutual work to achieve sustainable economic development. HE carried on that such meeting represents an advanced platform that brings together government and private agencies, to mobilize efforts and energies towards strengthening the foundations of industrial progress and sustainable development in Sharjah in particular and UAE in general.

HE SEDD Chairman also explained that Sharjah has succeeded in creating an appropriate and strong legislative and legal environment that supports the future visions and plans of the industrial sector. Al Mahmoud also added that Sharjah is capable of keeping pace with the Fourth Industrial Revolution and embodied the government’s directions for the country to be a leading global model in proactively confronting the challenges of the industrial future.

From his side, HE Omar Suwaina Al Suwaidi, Under-Secretary of UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology “MoIAT”, emphasized that the Ministry seeks through holding “Future of Industry Dialogue” meeting to emphasize the awareness of the programs, capabilities and incentives provided to the industrial sector through its projects and initiatives especially the “Make it in the Emirates” initiative, as well as the “National Value Added Programme” and the “Technological Transformation Programme, during which 25 factories in Sharjah were evaluated. He added that the Ministry adopt such programs in cooperation with its strategic partners such as Emirates Development Bank, Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI), and many partners in local governments and leading national companies, with the aim of stimulating integration and cooperation in order to enhance the competitiveness of Emirati products.

HE the Under-Secretary of MoIAT illustrated that the Ministry plays a strategic integrative role at the national level by creating opportunities and providing qualitative capabilities for the investment environment in the industrial and advanced technology sector, and facilitating industrial companies’ access to these incentives in cooperation with strategic partners. He carried on that Sharjah represents a model of cooperation in enhancing the role of the industrial sector, and one of the most prominent examples is the effective participation in the “National Industrial Census” project. Additionally, HE pointed out that UAE owns 88 factories registered and holding National Value-Added Program certificates, and expectations are great for registering new factories during the coming period.

Moreover, HE the Under-Secretary of MoIAT praised the efforts placed by the partners through “Industry Development Council” headed by the Ministry, to facilitate attracting investments and improving the business environment, especially in the cost of running business, including licensing, land and energy fees.

​ For her part, Mariam Nassir Al Suwaidi, Deputy Director of Industrial Affairs at SEDD, stressed that holding such meetings that discuss ways to develop the industrial situation is an ideal opportunity to introduce investors in the industrial sector to the most prominent investment opportunities, incentives and capabilities provided by various parties and entities. She clarified that such meetings serve to exchange opinions, ideas and proposals with government and private agencies and departments, to develop innovative and creative solutions to meet challenges, in an effort to develop clear frameworks for the industrial environment to keep pace with development requirements in general and industrial development in particular.

Mariam Al Suwaidi pointed out that SEDD aims to create an ideal climate for industrial investment that contributes to encouraging factories and investors and providing all means and capabilities to advance national industries. She intensified that SEDD is also working to activate its efforts to support factories by implementing initiatives and programs in cooperation with entities and institutions that will enhance the system of economic sustainability and investment development in the industrial sector.

During the meeting, the participated parties discussed the most important capabilities and incentives for the industrial business environment and informed investors about the most prominent investment opportunities offered by UAE in general and Sharjah in particular. Likely, the details of UAE investment system and the incentives and benefits available to innovators and entrepreneurs were highlighted. In addition, the industrial sector development team, its goals, and the efforts made to develop the industrial sector were introduced.

Furthermore, the meeting represented the challenges facing the industrial sector, and exchanged views and proposals that contribute to supporting and developing the sector, with the participation of an elite group of major national industrial companies. Additionally, number of presentations and dialogues were given to highlight services and products provided by the Emirates Development Bank to investors, as the bank provides financing solutions for companies and industrial projects that greatly affect the sources of development of the country’s economy.

Likewise, Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI) company give a brief about their services, as the company provides trade credit protection solutions for exports, which are specifically designed for small and medium-sized companies based in UAE, in order to support their growth plans on the global level and help them join emerging markets.

Moreover, Department of Agriculture & Livestock also provided an overview of "Saba' Sanabel – Seven Spikes” project as the first national product to obtain the “Make it in the Emirates” mark, as it meets quality and safety standards by conforming to the standard specifications adopted in UAE, which enhances consumer confidence and supports its competitiveness in the markets.

By the end of the meeting, SEDD praised the pivotal role of the Ministry in supporting the Department and its projects, and its keenness to provide an environment that contributes to enhancing the success of national industries, thus enhancing their competitiveness.