Category: Industry

DUBAI, Mohamed Helal Al Mheiri, Director-General of Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has discussed with Ruben Ramos Arrieta, Vice President of the Cuban Chamber of Commerce, means of developing economic cooperation channels between Abu Dhabi and Cuba, and boosting communication between the business communities of both sides.

This came during the meeting held between them as part of Abu Dhabi Chamber’s participation in Dubai Expo 2020.

Al Mheiri said that economic cooperation between the UAE and Cuba is diverse, covering all sectors, with a special focus on innovation, technology, economic diversification and renewable energy.

He highlighted Cuba’s position as one of the UAE’s key trade partners in the Caribbean region and that trade exchange between them continues to grow.

The Director-General gave a detailed explanation on the services the Chamber offers to businesses in Abu Dhabi, underscoring the features of Abu Dhabi’s attractive investment environment, including conducive legislations, advanced infrastructure and the government’s economic initiatives and incentives to facilitate doing businesses. “It is important to work together to support and empower businesses in Abu Dhabi and Cuba and to share information and economic solutions,” he said.

For his part, Arrieta expressed high hopes in building strong economic, trade, tourism, and investment relations, describing the UAE and Cuba as strong economies and doorways to the markets of the Middle East and Latin America.

He added that Cuba is attaches special importance to strengthening joint relations with the UAE and pushing the trade between the two countries to new levels, giving the opportunity for businesses to benefit from the promising investment opportunities available in diverse sectors, including healthcare and renewable energy.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, NAMA Women Advancement Establishment has reinforced its call for collective and tangible actions to further support gender-responsive businesses to make significant steps in women’s economic participation.

The panel discussion, held in partnership with the Pearl Initiative, entitled ‘Promoting Business Sustainability Through Women in Leadership,’ hosted recently at the Women’s Pavilion in Expo 2020 Dubai, was attended by over 30 CEOs and business leaders in the Gulf, who emphasized the need for developing competencies, allocating resources, strengthening accountability and setting gender equality objectives. Members on the panel included Patrick Chalhoub, Group President, Chalhoub Group; Muna Al Gurg, Director of Retail, Al Gurg Group; Dr. Patrick Allman-Ward, CEO of Dana Gas; and Huda Al Lawati, Founder and CEO, Aliph Capital.

Panel members outlined strategic business opportunities and meaningful and sustainable change that could be unlocked by enhancing gender equality in the workplace. The panel also stressed the importance of monitoring and assessing progress to ensure the sustainable implementation and enforcement of gender mainstreaming strategies.

During the 90-minute discussion, moderated by Ranya Saadawi, Executive Director at the Pearl Initiative, NAMA urged leaders in the private sector to drive value for business and society by boosting gender parity in leadership and decision-making through this discussion, which was held at EXPO 2020 Dubai. Business leaders in the Gulf region and other participants were also encouraged to shape sustainable pathways to help create an environment where women can achieve their full potential.

In a keynote address, Reem BinKaram, Director of NAMA, commended the UAE for its strong commitment to gender equality and dedicating an entire pavilion to women, for the first time in the history of a World Expo.

NAMA’s ongoing efforts towards creating a level playing field for women in the economy led to the recent launch of a ‘Women’s Inclusion Toolkit’, developed under its Irtiqa platform. The action-oriented and practical toolkit enables businesses in the MENA region to take planned action in applying gender responsive practices to advance women’s equality in the workplace.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, Dubai Chamber’s representative office in Mozambique recently organised a webinar in cooperation with the South African Business Council in the UAE (SABCO) and in association with Absa, which examined the bilateral economic synergies between the UAE and South Africa, and promoted Dubai as a global hub for South African companies.

The virtual event, attended by 113 participants from the UAE and South Africa, familiarised UAE companies with new investment and business opportunities in South Africa’s different sectors, advantages and facilities Dubai provides as an international business hub, while it shed light on South Africa’s economic landscape from different points of view.

Speakers and panelists participating in the webinar included Omar Khan, Director of International Offices, Dubai Chamber; Imtiaz Patel, Chair, Multichoice; Paul Potgieter, Chairman, SABCO; Barry Bedford, COO, Mediclinic UAE; Prof. Steyn Heckroodt, Chief Thought Leader, PCL; Melanie Veness, Chair, Association of South African Chambers; Yunus Hoosen, Head of Invest SA, DTIC; Karim Alami, Director, Ennero; and Premeshin Naidoo, Head of the Middle East and Asia, Absa.

Addressing participants, Khan noted that South Africa is a market of strategic importance to Dubai and Dubai Chamber. He noted that the Chamber is focusing its efforts on exploring business prospects in the country through its representative offices based in different parts of Africa, adding that over the last few years, Dubai has strengthened its position as a preferred trade hub for South African companies.

Dubai’s non-oil trade with South Africa has increased steadily in recent years to exceed US$4 billion in 2020, Khan revealed. The South African Business Council in UAE, established years ago under the umbrella of Dubai Chamber, plays a crucial role in building bridges between UAE and South African companies, and this joint webinar between the two entities is just the first collaboration and yet many more will come in order to achieve our objectives in promoting Dubai as a global hub for South African companies, he added.

For his part, Potgieter said that Dubai acts as an accelerator to enhance and push the bilateral relationship between MENA and African countries, and SABCO plays a significant role in promoting and establishing new partnerships, adding that through Dubai, South African companies can have access to global markets and Expo 2020 Dubai is an ideal platform to connect with the world and other markets.

A poll conducted during the webinar found that 33 percent of participants chose pro-business governments policy as a reason for doing business in Dubai, followed by connectivity 21 percent and leadership 18 percent, while participants voted for ICT and Agro-processing as the top sectors that businesses should invest in South Africa.

Source: Emirates News Agency

SHARJAH, During his visit to the United Arab Emirates, the Brazilian minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, astronaut Marcos Pontes, is showing his country’s potential in cutting-edge sectors, such as space, and seeking to attract investments in the area to the country. He spoke this Tuesday (19) at the ‘Brazil – UAE Business Seminar on Innovation,’ held by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) in partnership with the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP).

Pontes also visited the park together with an official mission of nine people and was received by the CEO of the SRTIP, Hussain Al Mahmoudi. The seminar took place in the park’s auditorium in Sharjah and had the support of Apex-Brasil and the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MCTI). Over 80 people participated in the on-site event, and part of it was broadcast live on the Ministry’s YouTube channel.

In an interview with ANBA during his visit to Sharjah, Pontes said in addition to opening an exhibition on Brazilian space projects in the Brazil Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, he is prospecting investments for Brazil’s space sector, artificial intelligence, and renewable energies. The SRTIP was launched in November 2020 to attract startups, companies, and technology institutions to settle in the emirate.

“This week is Space Week at Expo, and the ministry is responsible for space policy, so it has this ‘duty’ to prepare the Brazil Pavilion to prospect business. Brazil is currently making great advancements in the space sector compared to the last few decades. In two and a half years, we managed to launch four satellites, one of them entirely national, which was being built, we managed to complete, and it is now fully working in space, Amazônia 1,” the astronaut told ANBA.

The minister stated he is prospecting international partnerships for the Alcântara Space Center. “It is a great opportunity; we have several countries here talking about space, I have already had the opportunity to visit some pavilions [at the Expo] and talk to some coordinators to see if we can bring these partnerships to the Brazilian space program, and that applies to infrastructure, with a launch center, laboratories, development of space systems, space applications area and rockets, and here is a place where we can look for all these partnerships,” he declared.

Other sectors in which the ministry has been seeking international investments are artificial intelligence, renewable energies, and advanced materials such as niobium and graphene. According to Pontes, there are good possibilities for partnerships with the UAE; it is possible to bring Brazilian companies to the Arab country and, at the same time, seek investments in Brazil. “We have a highly attractive market,” he said.

According to the SRTIP CEO, Hussain Al Mahmoudi, there are several opportunities for Brazilian companies and research institutions in the UAE, especially in the park. “Brazil has a great history in technology; we can offer a platform for these technologies and companies to enter the Middle East market,” he told ANBA.

Al Mahmoudi listed opportunities for Brazilian startups and institutions in the space industry, food technology, education, 3D printing, environmental and water technology sectors. “Brazil offers great diversity, it is a great market; open for Middle Eastern companies to invest in the oil, education, and technology sectors. This seminar served to solidify this relationship and open new opportunities for bilateral investments,” he concluded.

In addition to Pontes and Al Mahmoudi, also spoke at the seminar opening the Brazilian ambassador to the UAE, Fernando Igreja; the president of the ABCC, ambassador Osmar Chohfi; and the executive head of operations at the Apex-Brasil office for the Middle East and North Africa, Karen Jones.

Chohfi said the SRTIP building embodies the importance Sharjah places on science and technology. “We must adapt to the new demands of the 4.0 economy,” said the ambassador.

He recalled Sharjah is recognized as an emirate of culture, and a solid alliance can bring Brazil closer to it for exchanges in technology, science, and innovation.

Karen Jones stated the UAE have been making a great effort to position themselves at the forefront of innovation and technology, and Apex-Brasil has the role of identifying the best opportunities for Brazilian companies. “We hope our partnership (Brazil – UAE) is strengthened,” she said.

Ambassador Igreja invited all the participants to visit the Brazil Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai and said Sharjah offers a unique environment to foster innovation. “We want to bring Brazilian innovators and startups here to work on these opportunities,” he declared.

In addition to statements by authorities and leaders, the event brought discussions about innovation in panels.

The first was on the opportunities and challenges in the innovation environment in the Arab countries and Brazil, with moderation by Al Mahmoudi. The panelists were Paulo Alvim, secretary of Entrepreneurship and Innovation of the MCTI; Mohammed Juma’a Al Musharrakh, CEO of the Sharjah FDI Office; and Ludmilla Figueiredo, Investment director of the Apex-Brasil office for the Middle East and North Africa.

The second panel was on investments in Science, Technology, and Innovation in the Arab countries and Brazil. The secretary of Financial Structuring and Projects of the MCTI, Marcelo Meirelles, and the president of the Steering Committee of Women-in-Tech, Gustavo Figueroa, spoke.

In addition to the panels, there were also brief presentations by representatives of three startups exhibiting at the Brazil Pavilion at Gitex, a startup show taking place this week in Dubai. André Palma, from Asel Tech, an oil and gas startup; Paulo Tenorio, from Trakto, a digital marketing company; and Alice Girardi, from Technano Solution, a Biotech, presented.

Source: Emirates News Agency

SHARJAH, ASAS Real Estate Company, the real estate arm of Sharjah Islamic Bank, in cooperation with the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, announced the launch of sales of the commercial, industrial land project “Al Qasimia City”, which reflects the ambitious vision of H.H. Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah in supporting the economic diversification strategy in the UAE.

It is one of the most prominent Industrial real estate projects the Government of Sharjah contributes to, keeping the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology strategy known as the 300 billion project. It is the largest and most comprehensive plan to develop the industrial sector in the country and contribute to achieving leadership and sustainable economic growth locally, regionally, and globally.

Ahmed Al Amiri, General Manager of ASAS Real Estate, said: “We continue to launch distinguished projects in the Emirate of Sharjah, with an industrial and commercial city project integrated with industrial, logistical and commercial facilities and services. To strengthen the industrial sector and achieve sustainable economic growth by providing the appropriate real estate incubator to promote local industrialization and the expansion of value-added industries. Under the advisory studies prepared by the Chamber in cooperation with significant expert houses in this field and to achieve the desired goal of implementing the project, which is a leading model for consolidating the Chamber’s strategy and vision in the ideal partnership between the public and private sectors and the contribution of the business community to the process of sustainable development.”

Al Amiri stressed that based on the national vision of the “Al Qasimia City” land project, the project aims to encourage investors to make industrial investment decisions in a strategic location in the Emirate of Sharjah, on the Dubai-Hatta highway, along the Al Madam area. The project is easily accessible from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ajman and provides all the potentials and elements of industrial investment secured through a high-level infrastructure of roads, lighting and electricity according to a specific schedule.

He explained that the project’s location is intermediate, between the country’s ports on the eastern and western coasts. This, in turn, contributes to attracting industries and logistical facilities, creating job opportunities and supporting high-tech sectors. All are achieved by contributing to the development of small and medium-sized projects and supporting the economy by providing suitable spaces for university and research centers and development.

The project provides multiple plots of land dedicated to factories, exhibitions, warehouses, offices and workers’ housing. In addition, commercial lands at competitive prices starting from 179,000 dirhams for commercial lands and 522 thousand dirhams for industrial lands constitute a rewarding investment opportunity for owners of various industries, as the project includes 1,119 industrial plots. The retail area extends over 22 million square feet, within an entire area dedicated to different sectors. The spaces start from 3,965 square feet for commercial lands and reach 115,765 square feet for industrial lands. The land is suitable for various types of industries.

ASAS Real Estate Company, the real estate arm of Sharjah Islamic Bank, provides a specialized team to receive those wishing to buy. They provide them with information on the project’s features, spaces and answer all technical questions to take the highest level of preventative measures to guarantee the health and safety of all at the headquarters of ASAS Real Estate Company on Maliha Street in the Emirate of Sharjah. With the provision of financing facilities for the project through the Sharjah Islamic Bank, to create an attractive climate for national and foreign investment in the project. It is worth noting that the project’s total area is approximately 30 million square feet, including roads and services.

ASAS Real Estate has launched many distinguished projects in promising areas, including residential and commercial lands, spacious apartments and luxury villas in the past years.

Services such as brokerage, marketing and sales, and ASAS Real Estate, through its strategic solutions, have contributed to achieving a high percentage of sales and profits, whether for companies, Sharjah Islamic Bank, or investors.

Source: Emirates News Agency

Foreign investment into China is expected to exceed 1 trillion yuan ($160 billion) this year, Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Friday.

Zong Changqing, director-general of the department of foreign investment administration of the Ministry of Commerce on Friday told a news conference that a recent survey conducted by the ministry among 3,000 key foreign enterprises showed about 93.3 percent of them are optimistic about their future development in China.

According to some reports released by foreign chambers of commerce such as that of the United States, the European Union, and Japan, nearly two-thirds of US enterprises, 59 percent of European enterprises, and 36.6 percent of Japanese enterprises plan to expand their investment in China, he said.

Foreign investment flows into China have achieved substantial growth in the first three quarters, and the ministry expects the scale of foreign investment in the whole year will exceed 1 trillion if things remain normal, he said.

Source: WAM – Emirates News Agency