Sharjah to host Industrial Cooperation and Supply Chain Conference on Tuesday

 Encouraging Emirati businesses to not only manufacture, but become vital exporters as part of international supply chains, will be the topic at the Industrial Cooperation and Supply Chain Conference, to be held on Tuesday at the Sharjah Exports Development Centre, SEDC, and organised by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, SCC.

Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, the event, entitled, "Utilising Industrial Cooperation to Develop Local Supply Chain Capabilities," will serve as an important opportunity to explore and discuss global trends in the industrial sectors. The conference will review developing ways of converting established manufacturers in the country into exporters of products and services to international Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM’s).

The industry-focussed conference will bring together representatives of the business community in Sharjah and the UAE, and a number of major local and international manufacturers in defence, aviation and space industrial sectors. They will discuss challenges of investing in manufacturing and business sectors and supply chains, and exchange views and ideas that support the objectives of the conference.

Sultan Abdullah Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI, stressed that the Chamber, as the appointed representative to promote business within Sharjah, is committed to assisting its members in developing their resources, identifying new global markets and becoming globally competitive, thereby increasing their export opportunities.

Al Owais said that the development of the manufacturing sector is not an option, but a priority that is in line with the UAE’s economic diversification strategy. "Extensive efforts should be made by the public sector and business community alike to boost the industrial and export sectors and raise the economic status of the Emirate and the UAE. "

Further, Al Owais urged investors, businessmen and entrepreneurs to participate at the conference, describing it as a vital platform to explore existing opportunities, identify future challenges and discuss the possibility of industrial cooperation to expand the capacities of local manufacturers, enabling them to supply components and services to Tier 1, 2 or 3 UAE and international Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM's) in the Defense, Aviation and Space industrial sectors.

Those at the conference will also discuss the business and investment environment in the UAE, focussing on the industrial investment environment. The agenda will further include the legal framework, laws and regulations of industrial sectors, facilities and incentives offered for industrial investment, and the roles of federal and local government agencies, chambers of commerce and industry and export development centers in promoting opportunities for industrial investments and opening new export markets.