Sharjah: The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently engaged in discussions with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office to enhance economic and trade cooperation, aiming to explore new investment partnerships.
According to Emirates News Agency, the discussions focused on strengthening collaboration through reciprocal participation in significant economic events and specialised exhibitions, particularly within the jewellery sector. This initiative is part of SCCI's strategy to deepen UAE-Hong Kong business connectivity, expand strategic partnerships, and unlock high-potential investment opportunities.
The meeting at the Sharjah Chamber's headquarters included Abdul Aziz Al Shamsi, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Business Sector, and Simon Chan, Director-General of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Dubai, along with senior representatives and officials from both sides. It builds on a series of ongoing engagements and joint initiatives that have strengthened bilateral cooperation in recent years.
A key milestone was the 2024 visit of a Hong Kong trade delegation led by the Secretary for Justice, followed by a high-level business mission comprising 20 senior executives exploring investment and partnership opportunities. These engagements have targeted high-growth sectors, including advanced manufacturing, AI and construction robotics, energy, healthcare, real estate, financial services, and the luxury segment covering jewellery, diamonds, and watches.
Abdul Aziz Al Shamsi stated that bilateral relations between Sharjah and Hong Kong are gaining strong momentum, with collaboration expanding into diverse high-impact areas. These include international commercial arbitration through the 2024 partnership between the Sharjah International Commercial Arbitration Centre 'Tahkeem' and Hong Kong, focused on alternative dispute resolution frameworks.
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office delegation acknowledged Sharjah's economic growth and its business-enabling infrastructure, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors. They highlighted Sharjah's strategic location, competitive free zones, and high-potential opportunities in manufacturing and global trade, supported by a pipeline of opportunities aligned with shared investment and development objectives.
The discussions also targeted the exhibitions sector, aiming to facilitate and expand Hong Kong business participation in flagship events hosted by Sharjah, such as the Middle East Watch and Jewellery Show and Jewels of Emirates Show. Additionally, both sides explored ways to strengthen UAE representation in Hong Kong-based exhibitions, leveraging the city's global leadership in the jewellery and gemstone industry to drive bilateral trade and collaboration.
The meeting considered enhancing cooperation with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office and expanding the partnership by establishing its presence in Sharjah. Discussions concentrated on enabling the office to serve as a strategic gateway for attracting Asian enterprises into Sharjah's diverse economic sectors, aiming to leverage the emirate's competitive advantages and advanced infrastructure to reinforce its position as a leading economic hub in the region.