Shurooq to host Sharjah-British business roundtable

The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority, Shurooq, in collaboration with the British Business Group - Dubai and Northern Emirates (BBG), will be hosting the Sharjah-British Business Roundtable. Taking place on the 10th of March, the roundtable forms part of the Authority's ongoing strategy to promote the Emirate as a world-class destination for international investment. The roundtable will be attended by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority, Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO of Shurooq, Edward Hobart, British Consul-General, and David Burns, Deputy Chair of the British Business Group, in addition to a number of government representatives from both Sharjah and Britain, as well as members of the British Business Group and the British business community in the U.A.E.. The roundtable will feature a series of presentations each focused on one of four key investment sectors, which will be outlined during Shurooq's opening presentation, namely Tourism, presented by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, Logistics, presented by Hamriya Free Zone Authority, Renewable Energies and Environment, presented by The Sharjah Environment Company (Beeah), and Healthcare, presented by Sharjah Healthcare City. A Q'&'A session and networking lunch will conclude the proceedings. Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO of Shurooq, said, "Shurooq is extremely pleased to be organising the Sharjah-British Roundtable event. Although the business communities of Sharjah and Britain are by no means strangers - the relationship between our countries dates back centuries - there are still many highly mutually beneficial business and investment opportunities waiting to be availed for investors and companies from the U.K. and we are looking forward to exploring these with our counterparts in the British business community." The Emirate of Sharjah and the U.K. enjoy a longstanding and highly successful relationship. In 2012, the value of trade exchange between Sharjah and the United Kingdom was AED 1.1 billion. Although there has been a slight decrease in the overall trade between Sharjah and the UK - trade in 2010 was AED 1.2 billion - imports from the U.K. into Sharjah have increased significantly with a CAGR of 15%. Jet engines and airplane parts amounted for the highest import value, while steel and steel products were the highest exported products from Sharjah to the U.K..