SHARJAH, 13th May 2013 (WAM) -- The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) and the Sharjah Department of Islamic Affairs recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to expand bilateral strategic partnership in the areas of humanitarian and community work in the Emirate.
The MoU was signed by Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Department of Islamic Affairs, and Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), at Sharjah Department of Islamic Affairs headquarter in Sharjah, in the presence of officials from both entities. This collaboration between the two bodies comes with the aim of enhancing the current strategic partnership and coordinating their efforts in order to raise community awareness and consolidate moderate Islamic culture in all local activities and events. The MoU also aims to preserve the Emirate's Islamic identity and culture, share expertise, and coordinate efforts to achieve better performance in serving the community and strengthening ties in all humanitarian and social fields. Speaking on the occasion, Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Department of Islamic Affairs, said, "Sharjah's organizations are working to serve those interests that boost the Emirate's status and humanitarian and cultural awareness roles, and develop partnerships between the Emirate's institutions and organisations in light of integration criteria. The partnership agreement with Shurooq, based on our shared visions, works to fulfil this significant ambition.""We expect this will be a fruitful cooperation that paves the way for further collaborations, which will increase growth in the Emirate and help it achieve its humanitarian, community, and cultural objectives,' Sheikh Saqr added. Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), said, "We are extremely pleased to enter into this partnership agreement with our strategic partner, the Sharjah Department of Islamic Affairs. Under this agreement, we will inform the Department of Islamic Affairs about Shurooq's experiences and various activities and provide it with every possible suggestion in order to help boost areas of bilateral cooperation between Shurooq and the Department."He added, "We will instruct Shurooq?s departments and destinations to hold a series of meetings with Sharjah Islamic Affairs, exchange information and reports, and cooperate to issue joint releases, as well as engage in joint activities and events that help achieve the objectives of the MoU and further develop our cooperative relationship in the future." "Shurooq is keen through its various programmes to adopt a comprehensive development plan in the Emirate in co-operation with its various strategic partners, most notably the Sharjah Department of Islamic Affairs, which was among our first supporters. The Department supported Shurooq in organising ?Al Eiman Oasis? as part of ?Ramadaniat Al Qasba? by hosting an elite group of renowned Muslim scholars and preachers to deliver daily lectures at Al Salaf Al Saleh mosque in Sharjah during the holy month of Ramadan. Shurooq is also working with the Department to provide prayer rooms at its different project sites," he noted.Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2013.
