Third Sharjah FDI Forum to take place in September

Under the patronage of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the third edition of the Sharjah FDI Forum is scheduled to take place on September 19th and 20th.

Organised by Sharjah Investment and Development Authority, Shurooq, and Sharjah FDI Office, Invest in Sharjah, the foreign investment promotion arm at the authority, the two-day event will be held at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre in Sharjah.

Themed "The 4th Industrial Revolution", the Sharjah FDI Form 2017, which is being conducted in a strategic partnership with CNBC Arabia, will bring together renowned decision makers, senior global businessmen and highly regarded experts from the public and private sectors, to review FDI prospects for the region.

Featuring a comprehensive programme of key note addresses, industry-led discussion panels and presentations from top officials, the forum programme will facilitate the exchange of knowledge and expertise, examine the current and future economic situation in the region and assess the outlook for its investment prospects. It will highlight a range of topics concerned with the future of the global economy, including the FDI reality, the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the impact of new technology, such as ‘blockchain’.

"The Sharjah FDI Forum, which was launched by His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, is a premium event that supports the march of sustainable economic development. It will examine trends in the economy and assess Sharjah’s experience of diversification, which includes equipping its key economic players with the requisite tools to ensure balanced growth," said Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO of Shurooq.

"In its previous two editions, the Sharjah FDI Forum has succeeded in providing practical concepts to develop investment policies and legislation for the optimal use of government and human resources. The third edition seeks to forecast the future of the global economy and its latest trends in order to strengthen the ability of the UAE and Sharjah in particular, to attract foreign direct investment and boost the emirate’s business-friendly environment," added Al Sarkal.

Mohammed Juma Al Musharrakh, Director of Invest in Sharjah, said, "The Sharjah FDI Forum is consistent with the strategic goals of Shurooq that aim to attract investors to Sharjah and to draw attention to its advantages as being a key regional business destination. We look forward to using the platform to highlight the opportunities in the emirate and to promote its investment-friendly environment."

"The forum will allow participants a great opportunity to exchange views and expertise about a number of important issues relating to today’s global economy. Among the topics that will be debated are the impact of modern technology on education and the role of small enterprises in changing economic models. Other topics include the introduction of Value Added Tax in the UAE and Sharjah’s future approaches to diversification," Al Musharrakh added.

Mohammed Burhan, CEO of CNBC Arabia, said, "Since its inception, CNBC Arabia has been a leading broadcast reporter on the economic events in the UAE and the wider region. It’s consistently high standard of reportage and analysis has ensured that it enjoys a reputed stature in the media arena."

"Given the importance of the Sharjah FDI Forum, we have decided to enter into a strategic partnership with Shurooq and Invest in Sharjah to ensure complete coverage of its third edition. We are keen to highlight the economic achievements of the UAE, with a specific focus on Sharjah, and we hope this partnership will continue beyond the two-day event itself," he added.

According to the World Investment Report 2017 released by the UN Conference on Trade and Development, UNCTAD, FDI inflows into the UAE grew by 2.2 percent in 2016 to US$9 billion from $8.8 billion in 2015. The UAE is ranked 12th on the list of top countries for FDI during the period from 2017 through 2019. The UAE has managed to achieve this growth in spite of a 1.6 percent decline in FDI inflows in 2016 on the global level and a 2 percent fall in Western Asia.

The report also shows that the cumulative FDIs to the UAE jumped to $117.9 billion by the end of 2016 from $109 billion at the end of 2015, a growth rate of 8.2 percent, with the UAE-bound FDI accounting for 26.5 percent of total FDI to GCC by the end of 2016.

Photocaptions: 1) His Highness Ruler of Sharjah during his opening speech at last year’s Sharjah FDI Forum 2016 (Archive) 2) One of the panel sessions during last year’s Sharjah FDI Forum 2016 (Archive) 3) His Excellency Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal 4) Mohammed Juma Al Musharrkh 5) Logo of the 3rd Sharjah FDI Forum 2017 6) General image of the Emirate of Sharjah 7) One of the panel sessions during last year’s Sharjah FDI Forum 2016 (Archive) For any additional information on the release, and for any exclusive interviews for your upcoming features or focus stories related to the topic of the release, please don’t hesitate to contact us: Rashed Daouk National Network Communications (NNC) Mob: +971502220508 Mousa Nimer National Network Communication - NNC Mob: +971 50 7376154 About Sharjah FDI: The Sharjah FDI Forum is one of the world-leading economic and finance forums, and the largest FDI and investment forum of its kind across MENA, which is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council Ruler of Sharjah. The event is organised by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) and the Sharjah FDI Office (Invest in Sharjah), the foreign investment promotion arm at the Authority, with the strategic partnership of CNBC Arabia. will lead topics such as the 4th Industrial Revolution, its impacts, challenges, and opportunities; the entrepreneurship and start-up ecosystem in Sharjah and the UAE; the policies and strategies that drive investments and competitiveness across the world.

The forum also features keynote presentations and lively panel debates, examining the outlook for global business and assessing prospects for investment in various economic sectors in the UAE and particularly in Sharjah. The third edition of the forum, to be held from September 19th and 20th 2017 at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre, will build on the success of its previous year’s event.

About Shurooq: Shurooq is an independent government organisation that facilitates partnerships and connects investors with relevant opportunities. Shurooq aims to create authentic destinations that are committed to enhancing the quality of life for citizens and residents, as well as foster an environment where businesses thrive and ideas flourish. Established in 2009, Shurooq strives to encourage investment in Sharjah by adopting the best international standards in providing quality services that help attract investors from both the region and the world.

About ‘Invest in Sharjah’: ‘Invest in Sharjah’ is a brand launched by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), during late September 2016. The "Invest in Sharjah" brand functions as means to promote a diverse set of investment opportunities in Sharjah as well as communicate a clear set of economic competencies in the emirate. The new brand, which is fully operated and managed by Shurooq, is also fully integrated and government-supported brand, which involves key insights and latest information on investment opportunities laid out by multiple Sharjah-based government entities. The aim of this initiative is to empower investors in Sharjah with a 360-degree informative and physical support, allowing investors to fully understand processes, investment advantages and insights on key sectors that fit their business profiles. "Invest in Sharjah" is expected to be Sharjah's flagship investment promotion brand, and a strategic partner for global investments into the emirate.