Sharjah: The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) recently facilitated a high-level business meeting with a delegation from the Kurdistan Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (K-FCCI) in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, alongside representatives from the Federation of the UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The discussions centered on bolstering economic and investment ties between the UAE and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, as well as developing joint initiatives to support economic platforms and reinforce strategic partnerships.
According to Emirates News Agency, the meeting was marked by an official reception hosted by Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Vice Chairman of the Federation of the UAE Chambers and Chairman of SCCI. The event saw participation from notable figures including Humaid Mohammed bin Salem, Secretary-General of the Federation of the UAE Chambers, and Mohammed Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Director-General of SCCI. Other attendees were Dr. Ahmed Saleh Al Echlah, Director of the Sharjah International Commercial Arbitration Centre 'Tahkeem', and Abdul Aziz Al Shamsi, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Business Sector at SCCI.
The delegation from Kurdistan was led by Dr. Mohammed Shihab Mohammed Amin, Chairman of the Higher Supervisory Committee of the Kurdistan Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The delegation included Gailan Haji Saeed, President of the Erbil Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Judge Shirwan Ibrahim Berdawood, Member of the Higher Supervisory Committee, Shivan Abdulrahman Aziz, Secretary General of K-FCCI, Kamaran Salah, Board Member of the Erbil Chamber, and Heman Farouk, Director General of the Erbil Chamber, along with other senior officials.
Abdallah Sultan Al Owais highlighted Sharjah's investment presence in the Kurdistan Region, driven by strategic Emirati investments in critical sectors such as energy and gas. He emphasized the region's favorable investment climate, which encourages the UAE private sector to explore more opportunities for economic cooperation with the Kurdistan Region.
Dr. Mohammed Shihab Mohammed Amin expressed gratitude to the Sharjah Chamber for their hospitality, acknowledging the Emirate's urban and economic advancements. He underscored the importance of studying the Sharjah International Commercial Arbitration Centre's model for potential application in the Kurdistan Region to enhance its commercial dispute-resolution framework.
Dr. Ahmed Saleh Al Echlah provided insights into the operational framework of the Sharjah International Commercial Arbitration Centre 'Tahkeem', emphasizing its dispute resolution, conciliation, and mediation mechanisms. He noted the Centre's digital platform and its role in making Sharjah a technology-enabled arbitration hub.
The meeting explored avenues for strengthening trade and investment between Sharjah and the Kurdistan Region, focusing on high-growth sectors and logistics integration. Discussions included leveraging Sharjah's strategic location and free-zone benefits to facilitate re-exports of Kurdistan goods to global markets, contributing to food security and economic diversification strategies.