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Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) has released details of the key themes of Euromoney Emirates 2017 to be held on May 8-9 at the Sheraton Sharjah Hotel, under the theme ‘Finance and Investment for an Innovative Economy’.
Held under the patronage of Sheikh Sultan bin Mohamad bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, the two-day event, organised by Shurooq in collaboration with Euromoney Conferences, will highlight the economic policy shifts and models necessary to sustain investment growth, encourage innovation across industries and enable financial institutions and SMEs to prepare for the future by adopting the latest and most secure technology.
It will bring together representatives from leading authorities on finance and economic development to discuss the next phases of development in the UAE, in particular Sharjah, in its efforts to become among the region’s top economies by embracing modern methods that support its growing approach towards adopting an innovative economy system.
The conference will feature a number of keynote speeches by economy officials and specialists, including Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Shurooq, HE Younis Haji Al Khouri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Saif Obaid Al Zaabi, acting CEO of the Securities and Commodities Authority, Adel Al Ali, CEO of Air Arabia, Khalid Al Huraimel, CEO of Sharjah Environment Company (Bee’ah), and Adel Al Zarouni, CEO of Al Zarouni Investment Company, among many other distinguished guests.
With a mix of keynote presentations, on-stage interviews, panel discussions and workshops, the conference, which has never been held in the UAE before, will address crucial topics related to an innovative economy and its mechanisms. At a time of fiscal uncertainty and global economic caution, this includes globalisation, energy markets and new technology, and the UAE will outline its intentions specifically with regards to the country’s aspirations, policies and strategies for an innovative economy.
The future of free zones and their roles within an innovative economy is also a key conference feature, including how UAE free zones compare to their global counterparts and the next steps for Sharjah free zones both locally and regionally.
HE Marwan Bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO of Shurooq, says the Euromoney Emirates Conference in its own right is an indication of the UAE’s importance in the region and its status as a major player on the global economic stage.
“We, in collaboration with Euromoney Conferences, have rolled out a comprehensive programme which focusses on the most pressing issues in today’s global economy. That not only provides a platform for essential debates on the future trends of fiscal policy, it also reinforces Sharjah’s ability and credibility as a regional economic driver and facilitator.
“The delegates and the speakers will see the phenomenal progress and development attained by Sharjah’s economy and its adoption of modern technologies in order to strengthen the business environment. We will highlight our incentives and advantages to promote the emirate as a leading destination for secure investments.”
Highlighting the backbone of the UAE economy, other sessions at the conference will focus on the role of small and medium sized enterprises under the theme ‘The Lifeblood of the Innovative Economy: SMEs in the Emirates’. In recognition of FinTech’s disruption to the traditional supply chain, the conference will discuss the future of banking and payments, including cybersecurity and leveraging high mobile penetration.
The event is also due to debate capital markets as a key driver of innovation and their importance establishing an innovative economy, as well as whether the UAE has the economic instruments necessary for innovation in capital markets.
Al Sarkal added: “A conference of this calibre is another milestone in Sharjah’s growing reputation as an intellectual venue for economic decision-makers and a lynchpin in regional growth. Our visitors will see that we are an extremely advanced economy which can recognise and capitalise on many trends and shifts. We have an economy which not only adapts to change, it anticipates it.”
Shurooq was established in 2009 with the aim of achieving social, cultural, environmental and economic development on the basis of Sharjah’s distinct Arab and Islamic identity. It is focused on encouraging investment by adopting the best international standards in providing quality services that help attract investors from across the region and around the world.
Shurooq’s key mission is to provide facilities and incentives to help overcome obstacles facing investment activities in the emirate, evaluate investment-related infrastructure projects, and lay down the necessary plans to complete such projects.
For more information and full agenda visit the Euromoney Emirates 2017 event page.
(Press Release)
