SHARJAH – The Sharjah Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Office (Invest in Sharjah) has revealed the agenda for the 6th edition of the Sharjah Investment Forum (SIF 2023), to be held at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre on February 8 and 9.

The event will bring together a host of local and global decision makers, senior government officials, CEOs, investors and business leaders, who will participate in a number of enlightening panel discussions and interactive workshops, giving all who attend a prime opportunity to network and connect.

SIF is a leading annual event and the first major highlight in the calendar year for investors and business leaders, highlighting the importance of investing in sustainable industries and fulfilling societies’ basic needs through utilising technologies that aid in shaping a prosperous and sustainable future for all.

In this year's edition, held this year under the theme, ‘Redefining economies making significant strides for a better future’, SIF addresses the challenges that the global economy has suffered in recent years due to the pandemic and provides solutions by supporting partnerships among stakeholders and showing the great potential for investors in the upcoming years.

The forum will also discuss the potential opportunities in the world of entrepreneurship by covering important topics including, the future of the green economy, the virtual economy, and the role of family businesses in supporting regional economies as well as the importance of strengthening the health, education and food security sectors. In addition, SIF will highlight the role of the region in helping companies scale up, in order to reimagine concepts of sustainability, development and social responsibility, and the need for modern technologies to help shape future cities and societies.

For the first time, SIF will be launching the ‘Investor Lounge’, where it will bring together a group of government officials, directors and CEOs, providing the attendees with a unique opportunity to enhance communication with these parties and create a platform for networking with these sector elites, ensuring the sustainability of their businesses and aid in achieving their long-term goals.

Mohammed Al Musharrakh, CEO of the Sharjah Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Office (Invest in Sharjah) said, ‘This year's edition of SIF will be attended by a host of leading experts and investors from the region and around the globe, the forum will highlight the concept of redefining economies, and what that entails, in terms of new and innovative approaches to creating a comprehensive economic development strategy, that ensures a sustainable future, and attracts strategic investment to the vital and advanced-manufacturing sectors.’

He added, ‘Over five years, SIF has seen Sharjah succeed in attracting investors, thanks to its attractive and sustainably balanced economic performance over the years. In 2020, for example, foreign investment in the emirate amounted to $220 million, creating 1,117 job opportunities. It was driven by 4 vital sectors in the emirate; communications and information technology by 55.6 percent, food and agriculture 49.7 percent; life sciences 47 percent; and logistics and distribution 46.2 percent. In 2021, the overall business licenses issued and renewed in the emirate reached 61,130 licenses, with a growth rate of 8 percent in comparison to 2020, seeing 6,831 new licenses issued and 54,299 renewed.

Launched in 2015, SIF aims to shed light on the global economic changes by addressing important topics and issues, bringing together a group of local, regional and global experts in the field.

The forum invites all interested in attending the sixth edition activities to register on the following link: https://bit.ly/SIF2023