Top CEOs to Highlight Local Economic Strengths at Sharjah FDI Forum 2016

The World Forum for Foreign Direct Investment (Sharjah FDI 2016), a global event organised by Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) in conjunction with Financial Times, will bring together a host of top CEOs to discuss the investment opportunities and challenges in the region.

Taking place on September 28-29, 2016 at the Sheraton Sharjah Beach Resort & Spa, Sharjah FDI 2016 will see leaders from a cross-section of local and international business organisations discuss an array of economic issues that are of importance to the UAE in general and the emirate of Sharjah in particular.

As announced by Shurooq, the list of speakers representing regionally-based concerns at the forum will include their Excellencies Abdullah Bin Ahmad Al Saleh, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Economy for Foreign Trade and Industry Affairs, Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO of Shurooq; Khalid Al Huraimel, Bee’ah Group Chief Executive Officer; Khalid Al Huraimel, Bee’ah Group Chief Executive Officer; Hussain Mohammed Al Mahmoudi, Chief Executive Officer, American University  of Sharjah Enterprise, Salim Rashid Al Nuaimi, CEO and Managing Director of Waha Capital and Flemming Dalgaard, CEO of Gulftainer.

Speakers from internationally-based organisations at the two-day event will include Parag Khanna, Director of the Global Governance Initiative, American Strategy Program at the New America Foundation, Dr. Nasser H. Saidi, Founder and Managing Director of Nasser Saidi & Associates and a member of the IMF’s Regional Advisory Group for MENA, Mouayed Makhlouf, MENA Regional Director, International Finance Corporation, Stuart Anderson,  Managing Director and Regional Head Middle East, Standard & Poors, Dalya Al Muthanna, President and CEO of GE Gulf; Ahmed Abdelaal, Regional Head of Corporate Clients Coverage MENA and Head of Commercial Banking UAE, HSBC and Arjen Radder, CEO of Philips Middle East. 

Additional high profile CEOs speaking at the event include: Neil George, Senior Vice President, Acquisitions & Development Middle East & Africa at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide; Dany Farha, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner of BECO Capital, Thorsten Braun, General Manager, Middle East, Iran and Pakistan, Lufthansa Cargo AG, Geoff Walsh, Country Manager, UAE, DHL Express, David J Burns,  Chairman of the British Business  Group, Ahmed Ramdan, Founder, Roya International and Henry Loewendahl, Founder & CEO, Wavteq.

Among the issues that the speakers will address during their presentations are the impact of the region’s politics on its investment climate, how to avoid fall-out resulting from global economic fluctuations, how to set up a business in Sharjah, the legal aspects of operating a business in the UAE and how to establish public-private partnerships. The organisers of Sharjah FDI Forum 2016 say that the plethora of leading regional and international business leaders taking part has put the event on the map as one of the most important global investment forums.

“We are delighted to host the participation of such an elite body of chairpersons and chief executives at the Sharjah FDI Forum 2016. These dynamic business leaders will be able to share their combined expertise and knowledge about the local and global economy, giving participants the opportunity to make the most of their insights to develop their own current businesses or to launch new ventures," said HE Marwan bin Jassim Al Serkal, CEO of Shurooq.

"Sharjah FDI Forum 2016 will highlight Sharjah's business-friendly environment and examine ways to ensure the success of investment in the emirate's key sectors, especially in tourism and leisure, eco- development, healthcare, and transport and logistics. Participants will be able to find out more on the cooperation between the public and private sector and see how both parties can benefit from such partnerships,” added Al Serkal.

Sharjah FDI Forum 2016 is being held under the patronage of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. The event has been established to offer an unparalleled opportunity to examine investment prospects in the UAE in general and Sharjah in particular. The forum will bring together a selection of business leaders, policy makers, officials, economic experts and academics who will highlight the economic growth prospects and business opportunities available in a variety of economic sectors.