Sharjah to expand business, tourism facilities

Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), a body that works to speed up the development of business and tourism facilities in Sharjah met trade delegations from Malaysia, Hong Kong and took part in the NYU International Hospitality Conference recently as part of its aggressive expansion plans.
Top officials from the Malaysian Trade Center discussed future cooperation and Shurooq has decided to send a delegation to Malaysia to meet with large organizations and authorities there to discuss investment and trade opportunities, sources said.
“Maintaining and expanding trade relations between the Middle and Far East have always been one of our key priorities,” said Marwan bin Jassim Al-Sarkal, CEO of Shurooq.
Shurooq’s key mission is to provide facilities and incentives to help overcome obstacles facing investment activities in Sharjah, evaluate tourism-related infrastructure projects, and lay down the necessary plans to complete such projects.
Currently, Shurooq is working on several projects in Sharjah. Al-Majaz Waterfront, Heart of Sharjah project, The ChediKhorfakkan Resort, the Kalba-Eco Tourist project, are some of them.
The five-phased heart of Sharjah project has alreadystarted and it will restore and revitalize the heritage area .
The AED 350 million Chedi Khorfakkan Resort is expected to open in 2015.
The resort consists of three components: the fort, the hill town and town square.
Al-Majaz Waterfront, on the picturesque Khalid Lagoon, the latest leisure and tourism destination in Sharjah, attracts a large number of people every day.
The three-phase Kalba Eco-tourism Project, which started recently is expected to be completed in six years. .
During the meeting with Malaysian trade delegation, Shurooq’s Business Development director, Elie Armaly, gave a presentation highlighting Shurooq’s future investments and projects, and the delegation comprising vice consul (trade) Mazlan Harun, marketing manager AhmadurRahman, and marketing officer Mohammad Jamal, as well as the Investment Consul Sukri Abu Bakar.
In a separate meeting, a top delegation from Hong Kong Trade Development Council in Dubai, comprising Middle East and Africa regional director, Stephen Wong, also met the Shurooq officials. They discussed about future avenues of collaboration with a special focus on the fields of environment, alternative energies, the health industry, tourism and logistic services.
This meeting between the council and Shurooq formed part of the preparations for the Shurooq’s upcoming visit to Hong Kong on June 18 and 19, during which they will be discussing development projects and promoting investment sectors in Sharjah.
“We are looking forward to a highly rewarding visit to Hong Kong and we consider this visit as an excellent chance to lay the groundwork for mutually beneficial trade and investment relationships with our colleagues in Hong Kong,” Al Sarkal added.
Shurooq has also taken part in the 34th Annual New York University International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference in New York, USA.
“Shurooq’s participation in the conference comes in line with its highly ambitious strategy to promote Sharjah as a leading investment destination in the region,” Al-Sarkal said.
“Our participation falls in line with our approach of promoting Sharjah’s tourist attractions, as well as at negotiating with a number of international hotel operators on possible partnerships in future hotel projects in the Sharjah,” Al Sarkal said.
Sharjah, the only GCC hub with direct access to the Gulf and Indian Ocean, offers a gateway to 160 countries and it is a keyhub for manufacturing and industrial activities in the region.