Sharjah 24: The Sharjah Foundation to Support Pioneering Entrepreneurs (Ruwad) discussed opportunities for joint cooperation with the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) in the field of supporting small and medium-sized Emirati projects that are members of Ruwad, exchanging experiences and employing common capabilities by agreeing on initiatives to develop the entrepreneurship environment in the Emirate.

This came during the meeting held between the two sides at the headquarters of Shurooq in Al Qasba, in the presence of Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, Chief Operating Officer at Shurooq, and on the part of the Ruwad, Fatima Al Ali, Director of Project Support and Finance Department, Abdullah Al Saadi, Business Centres Coordinator, Nasser Al Owais, Senior Financial Analyst, and Marwa Helabi, Events Coordinator at Research, Training and Events Department, attended the meeting. 

In this context, His Excellency Hamad Ali Abdullah Al Mahmoud, Director of Ruwad, said that the meeting is part of Ruwad's permanent efforts to build and attract new partnerships at the governmental and private levels, and to expand the base of cooperation with institutions, bodies and entities related to the business sector.

His Excellency continued that such efforts fall into creating joint opportunities to provide more quality and advanced services to facilitate the establishment of small and medium enterprises and provide the advantages, incentives and facilities necessary for their launch, support and continuation, and enable them to participate in supporting the local economy of Sharjah.

His Excellency pointed out that the Emirate of Sharjah represents an ideal destination for entrepreneurs and investors from inside and outside the country, which is the outcome of the tireless efforts made by the wise leadership in the Emirate to create a business environment that attracts entrepreneurs and ambitions in the field of self-employment, welcoming their ideas and development projects.

His Excellency praised the continuous efforts of Shurooq and its pivotal role in adopting and launching many initiatives and projects that have succeeded in attracting investors and businesses, and its tangible interest in enriching strategic partnerships aimed at enhancing the global position of the Emirate of Sharjah in the world of finance, business and investment.

In turn, Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, Chief Operating Officer said: “Supporting entrepreneurs and emerging companies is an essential pillar in the Shurooq’s vision and strategy, based on its belief in the pivotal role of the entrepreneurship sector in the growth and stimulation of the local economy. In addition to, its role in promoting the innovation process, as Shurooq seeks to be an ideal role model to support entrepreneurs by developing various projects and launching initiatives to provide more qualitative and advanced services to facilitate the establishment of small projects, contributing to strengthening the position of the Emirate of Sharjah as an investment destination for entrepreneurs.”

The axes of the meeting included discussing the possibility of the projects joining the Ruwad membership to benefit from the rental spaces and sites provided by Shurooq in its sites, facilities, and its affiliated tourist destinations. In addition to areas of providing facilities and discounts on the rental values of these sites, in order to facilitate the member entrepreneurs to manage their projects in these areas at appropriate costs for them. The meeting also discussed the study of granting free spaces to projects wishing to display their new products and services at Shurooq’s sites.

The attendees also reviewed ways to enhance the chances of participating and winning member projects in the tenders offered by Shurooq through registering projects, in line with the plan to activate the government procurement system for these projects.

The two parties also agreed to cooperate in the implementation of initiatives, by hosting Shurooq for a number of events and activities implemented by Ruwad or member projects.