Sharjah Prepares for a High-Level Trade Mission to Netherlands

A high-level trade delegation from Sharjah, representing its government’s key investment and business entities, will be in Amsterdam and Rotterdam in the Netherlands, to introduce Dutch investors to new business opportunities in a variety of sectors including logistics, tourism, environment, healthcare, education, media and digital productions, and offer them keen industry insights about the fast-growing business environment of Sharjah.    

The visit organised by Invest in Sharjah – the investment promotion agency of the emirate – is a follow up to the business roundtable this February, where Sharjah hosted over 150 Dutch investors, representing a mix of existing businesses based out of the emirate as well as business owners who travelled from the Netherlands to explore areas of interests.

The high-level delegation will include HE Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq); HE Dr. Khalid Omar Al Midfa, Chairman, Sharjah Media City (Shams); HE Hussein Al Mahmoudi, CEO of the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park; Mohammed Juma’a Al Musharrkh, CEO, Invest in Sharjah; and Ahmed Saif Binsaed, Head of the Commercial Investment Section at Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD).

On Tuesday May 8th, first day of the visit, the delegation are scheduled to meet representatives from key innovation hubs and centers in the city of Amsterdam, including the Science Park; the Marineterrein, a historic hub known for its cultural, maritime and commercial functions, and is growing in significance as an innovative testing ground for Amsterdam and cities worldwide; Growth Tribe, which is Europe’s first growth hacking academy; and Yes!Delft, a start-up incubator that supports entrepreneurs in building and growing technology companies.

On Wednesday May 9th, Invest in Sharjah is organising the “Sharjah Netherlands Business Seminar”, slated to take place at the Hilton Rotterdam Le Jardin Venue in Rotterdam. Participating at the business seminar are HE Saeed Ali Yousef Alnowais, UAE, Ambassador in Netherlands; as well as the high-level representatives and participants from the Sharjah delegation, and top Dutch investors based in Sharjah and the Netherlands.

The seminar is expected to open Dutch investors a new portal into Sharjah’s diversified markets, and will be an informative platform to help them identify key sectors for investment growth, especially in the fields of innovation and technologies.

Shedding light on the importance of the visit, Mohammed Juma’a Al Musharrkh, observed: “After a hugely successful business roundtable with the Netherlands in February this year, we are gearing up for what Sharjah believes will be a great opportunity to meet and connect with industry leaders in the Netherlands, a nation with which Sharjah the UAE’s trade relationships were forged more than 60 years ago. We are always looking at ways to optimise the relationship at a higher level, and partnerships in key sectors like healthcare, maritime, food and water sustainability, in which the Dutch represent some of Europe’s best, can be instrumental in driving sustainable and positive growth in both nations.”  

“Currently, around 150 Dutch businesses are based out of Sharjah and we are keen on growing this number substantially. At the roundtable event, we discussed with our Dutch counterparts that positive, practical steps will be taken to open viable investment opportunities for Dutch businesses to either grow or enter in the Sharjah business community. This visit will be the first in a series of new efforts we are planning in the direction,” he added.  

The Rotterdam visit comes as part of the continuous drive by Invest in Sharjah to collaborate with overseas private and public organisations in order to boost the emirate’s visibility and foreign investment appeal, increasing international awareness of Sharjah’s potential as a target for international businesses.

The UAE is home to over 7,500 Dutch nationals, and 250 Dutch businesses including the likes of ABN Amro, AkzoNobel, Boskalis, ING, Unilever, Philips, Shell, Van Oord and Vopak.