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German Emirati Joint Council for Industry & Commerce (AHK) and Shurooq host business networking lunch

Council establishes Sharjah Chapter to strengthen ties with local business community
Sharjah, 11 June 2012: The German Emirati Joint Council for Industry & Commerce (AHK) in collaboration with the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) and Hamriyah Free Zone in Sharjah held a business and networking luncheon at Al Qasba, Sharjah on Monday, June 11^th 2012.

The day's proceedings featured a number of eminent speakers including HE Klaus HD Ranner, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Dubai, H.E. Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, Shurooq CEO, H.E Hussain Mohammed Al Mahmoudi, Director General of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Humaid Al Khatiri, Commercial Director of Sharjah Airport International Free Zone (SAIF Zone), Dr. Peter Göpfrich, AHK CEO, and Mr. Martin Böll, Bureau Chief, Germany Trade & Invest Dubai.

Dr. Peter Göpfrich, CEO of the German Emirati Joint Council for Industry (AHK), remarked that the purpose of the event was to strengthen the relationship between the AHK and the Emirate of Sharjah and to establish a "Sharjah Chapter" of the German Emirati Joint Council for Industry & Commerce (AHK). The event, which aimed at creating greater understanding of the needs and expectations of the Sharjah business community and integrating them within the framework of the Chapter, was attended by a large number of existing AHK members, as well as numerous other German companies based in Sharjah, local authorities and Emirati businesses interested in cooperation with German companies.

He added, "Although the Council primarily operates on the federal level of the UAE, AHK also takes into consideration the constitutional framework of the UAE as a union of several single Emirates, each with its own history, particularities and its own economic structure. Therefore, in addition to 'federal issues', AHK is strongly committed to see to the concerns and the interests of its members on the local level and to develop a diversified range of activities. By means of its Local Chapters, AHK brings together local authorities as well as German and local businesses and promotes economical as well as social and cultural cooperation."

Shurooq CEO, H.E Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal commented, "The relationship between Shurooq and the German Emirati Council is one that we have always valued highly, and the establishment of the Sharjah Chapter of AHK is yet another milestone in our journey together, one that we are very happy to be witnessing."

Al Sarkal went on to observe that Germany was the UAE's one of the most important trading partner within the Eurozone, while the UAE in turn represented the most important market for Germany in the MENA Region, with more than 800 German companies currently established in the UAE and the volume of trade between the two countries in 2011 totalling $11 billion.

The German Emirati Joint Council for Industry & Commerce (AHK) is a German semi-governmental organization and member of the world-wide German Chambers Network. Since May 2009 the AHK in the UAE has obtained the status of a bilateral membership organization, with German and local member companies. AHK works to support promote and trade relations between Germany and the United Arab Emirates, and in particular supports German companies in building up and extending their business in the region.

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, so as to encourage investment by adopting the best international standards in providing quality services that help attract investors from the region and the world. The Authority's main mission is to provide the required facilities and incentives, to overcome obstacles facing investment activities in the Emirate, to evaluate investment related infrastructure projects, and to lay down the necessary plans to complete such projects.

For more information please contact:
Yousef Al Taweel
Sahara Communications
E-mail: yousuf@saharagcc.com
Mobile: 050 556 25 20
Fadia Daouk
Sahara Communications
E-mail:fadia@saharagcc.com
Mobile: 050 538 39 73

© Press Release 2012

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