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Integral to the planning and development
of Sharjah's commercial infrastructure,
following the oil boom in 1971, the
Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry
was established.
From
the beginning the SCCI sought to create
a strong non-oil sector to lay a comprehensive
foundation for sharjah's economy. More
than twenty years later, this policy
is paying off. The Petrochemical Industry
is well-developed, as well as the Textile
& Leather, Basic Nonmetal, Foodstuff
and Wood Industries.
Currently,
the industrial sector contributes about
9.6% of the Emirate's GDP. The push
to shift Sharjah into a redistribution
and re-export hub for the fast growing
Middle East market has proved itself
equally rewarding.
The
SCCI gives full support to investors
at all stages. It offers technical advice
and assistance in the preparation of
preliminary viability studies. Its Industrial
Development Department provides assistance
at the operational stage, conducts market
surveys and assesses the progress of
any enterprise. It also recommends optional
methods of production and suggests ways
and means of avoiding difficulties.
The
Chamber is continuously seeking ways to
improve the Emirate's infrastructure and
boost industrial activity through searching
for and promoting Sharjah goods in new
markets. It looks into issues like minimum-wage
requirements, civic amenities in industrial
source and legal affairs.
With
the implementation of a comprehensive
Data Bank, Sharjah has added a major
asset to its services. The Data Bank
contains a voluminous and diverse amount
of information regarding local, regional
and international business-related activities
e.g. a world -wide directory of trade
fairs and exhibitions, details on international
chambers of commerce, business opportunities
in Sharjah and elsewhere.
To
complement the Data Bank, the SCCI have
introduced a hi-tech on-line information
service network - the Sharjah Information
Guide. It gives access to a wide scope
of information - ranging from trade
to tourism, from addresses to maps,
from banks to bazaars. The touch screen
system makes the guide easily accessible
and user-friendly.
In
the early '90's, the Sharjah Government
developed an enlightened plan to set
up eleven industrial zones - executed
by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and
Industry - to give an extra boost to
the development of industry and to encourage
industrial investors. This has resulted
in a tailor-made model industrial zone
with state-of-the-art facilities, infrastructure
and utilities. It has been set up west
of the city, covering 26 sq. kms., with
2,649 individual plots of between 10,000
and 20,000 sq. ft. An ideal location
with first-class road links to Sharjah's
air and seaports. There is an efficient
drainage system and the excellent power
and water supplies are subsidized by
as much as 70%. As the SCCI is a nonprofit
organization, plots can be purchased
at cost price.
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