Sharjah, Jan 30th, 2011 (WAM) -- As part of ongoing efforts by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority to boost the investment vehicle in the emirate, Shurooq Chief Executive Officer Marwan Jasim Al Sarkal visited the Italian city of Parma to promote the emirate's investment opportunities and discuss ways of cooperation available between the two cities.

He was accompanied by Ahmad Al Qaseer, Director of Property Management, Shurooq, on his visit during which he toured major companies and factories in the city, and met with senior businessmen and investors to brief them on investment opportunities in Sharjah and discuss ways of cooperation available between both cities.

The visit came upon an invitation received by Shurooq Investment and Development Authority from SPIP (Societa Parmense Insediamenti Produttivi(, a leading Italian industrial zone, whose 98 percent of its stake is owned by Parma Municipality.

On the first leg of his tour, Al Sarkal visited the headquarters of the Municipality of Parma where he met the Mayor of Parma and discussed ways to strengthen the relations between Sharjah and Parma, and make the best use of opportunities between the UAE and Italy. They also discussed ways of cooperation in the field of food industries to benefit from the vast and prestigious experience that distinguish Parma, which became the permanent seat for the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) in 2003.

Italy is the UAE's second largest European trading partner after Germany, whereas the total volume of trade exchange between them reached $30 billion in2008, and then fell by 24 per cent in 2009 due to the global financial crisis.

The volume of Italian exports to the UAE constitutes 85 per cent of the value of trade exchange between the two countries, while UAE exports to Italy represent 15 per cent.

Parma is located in northern central Italy in the Emilia-Romagna region with a population of approximately 200,000 people, and hosts a number of major companies and important factories in Italy as well to a large number of businessmen, investors and prominent figures. Parma has become the permanent headquarters for the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) since 2003.

The delegation held a press conference at Parma Municipality that included company representatives, businessmen and investors in Parma. It gave a presentation on the most important industries and future investment opportunities in Sharjah.

Al Sarkal held an informal meeting with Luigi Amato Molinari serves as the President of the I.C.C.R.I. - Banca Federale Europea, and discussed ways to develop the relations and joint cooperation. The delegation also visited a number of large companies in Parma, including a number of free zones and factories.

The delegation also visited prestigious Italian noble family Dalla Rosa Prati the city of Parma, which has close ties with a number of royal families in Europe and has invested successfully in luxury heritage hospitality industry. During the meeting, Shurooq Chief Executive Officer gave a detailed presentation explain on investment projects in Sharjah, especially the Heart of Sharjah heritage project on which construction work has begun recently. Later, the delegation met Prince Diofebo Meli Lupi di Soragna at his palace where they discussed ways of cooperation in the field of alternative energy, whereas the prince is participating in many alternative energy projects in Italy and Europe.

The delegation also visited the palace of Count Orazio Zanardi Landi as the family expressed great interest in heritage projects and identifying the Heart of Sharjah Project.

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2011.