Page 322 - MOE ENGLISH PR REPORT - MARCH 2025

3/18/25, 1:31 PM Innovation, sustainability key to Sharjah’s future, says Bodour
pathways to inclusive growth. Each partnership formed and each idea shared moves us closer to a
future that honours our values, supports entrepreneurs, and creates lasting economic resilience for
generations to come.”

The main focus of the Ramadan Majlis was on devising strategies to enhance the manufacturing
sector by examining opportunities and challenges through an open discussion with leading figures.
These efforts, while spotlighting exemplary models and success stories, reinforce Sharjah’s
expanding influence within the regional and global industrial arena, and the emirate currently
accounts for 35% of the UAE’s total industrial output, underscoring its status in driving national
industrial growth and competitiveness.

Under the theme “Sharjah: Shaping the Future, Empowering Growth,” this year’s Majlis was
organised by Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), Sharjah FDI Office (Invest in
Sharjah), the Sharjah Entrepreneurship centre (Sheraa), and the Sharjah Research, Technology, and
Innovation Park (SRTI Park). This high-profile gathering brought together an impressive array of

senior government officials from the UAE’s Ministry of Economy (MoE), Ministry of Industry and
Advanced Technology (MoIAT) and Sharjah’s Economic Integration Committee; as well as leaders
and experts from diverse sectors including investment, tourism, manufacturing, technology, and
entrepreneurship.

The Majlis also included the signing of three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between Invest in
Sharjah and SRTI Park, Sheraa and Emirates General Petroleum Corporation (Emarat), and between
Invest in Sharjah and Alef Group aimed at enhancing innovation and the entrepreneurship ecosystem
as well as opportunities in the emirate’s property sector respectively.

Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade discussed the significant
economic status the UAE has achieved globally, highlighting the country’s comprehensive network of
partnerships, agreements, and cooperation protocols across various sectors, stating, “The CEPA
agreements are opening new doors for manufacturers in Sharjah, making trade an even more
significant driver of our economy. As we connect our markets to emerging economies in India,
Southeast Asia, Africa, and South America, for example, we are greatly expanding our reach and

actively shaping a strong global trade system. We’re already witnessing a surge of global interest in
Sharjah, as it continues to attract businesses from around the world, and by leveraging these
agreements, our manufacturers can tap into new markets, diversify their export portfolio, and position
themselves at the forefront of global trade.”

On behalf of Sharjah’s Economic Integration Committee, Sheikh Fahim Al Qasimi, Chairman of the
Department of Government Relations in Sharjah, who leads the committee, said: “Sharjah’s economy
is doing incredibly well and is evolving at an impressive pace, with our GDP now over Dhs 145 billion,
surpassing the global average by 3.5%. We’re immensely proud of the businesses that have found
their home in Sharjah, especially those in the private sector, that have been the backbone of our
economy for over a decade, and there is a reason why global giants such as Halliburton and Amazon
have shown their confidence by investing in our emirate. Our primary mission is to ensure greater

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