SEDD discusses achievements for first half of 2008

The meeting was attended by H.E Ali Bin Salem Al Mahmoud, General Manager of the SEDD and Chairman of the Quality Leadership Committee, Nawal Askar, Deputy Director of the Economic and Public Relations Department, Amna Al Hamady, Deputy Director of the Department of Finance and Administration, Fahad Ahmad, Deputy Director of the Department of Registration and Licensing, Husain Hassan, Director of the Department of Commerce and Commercial Protection, Youmna Saif Al Noman, Director of IT, Hamad Omar Al Midfaa, Deputy Director of Legal Affairs and Hanadi Ali Al Muhairi, Deputy Director of Quality and Control, all of whom are members of the SEDD's Quality Leadership Committee.

The focus of the two day meeting was a detailed review of what has been achieved by the the Departments of Registration and Licensing and Finance and Administration, as well as the Quality and Control,IT and Legal Affairs Sections in the first 6 months of 2008.

H.E Ali Bin Salem Al Mahmoud praised these departments and sections, hailing the results of their efforts, which have significantly contributed to the growth within the department in the first half of 2008, as outstanding. Recent statistics released by the Department indicate substantial growth for this period, particularly in comparison to that of the corresponding period in 2007.

In his comments, Al Mahmoud said:

"This level of performance demonstrates the dynamism of the SEDD's various departments and sections, which is consistent with the Department's ambitious strategy for maintaining the momentum of economic growth in the emirate, keeping its progress on a firm upward trajectory."

The meeting discussed in depth the results of internal and external audits conducted on the quality system adopted by the Department, the performance of suppliers, the annual executive plans for quality policy and the objectives of these plans, the changes affecting the quality systems and the necessary resources and infrastructure required to maintain and improve the development process.

During the meeting, an evaluation was done of employees' needs for training courses and ways in which these needs may be addressed. The meeting also included a review of the results of a client satisfaction survey conducted with regard to customer satisfaction, which indicated a high level of satisfaction with satisfaction with the procedures adopted by the SEDD and the speed with which transactions are completed.

Al Mahmoud stated that the SEDD is set to organise the Economic and Industrial Cities Forum 2009, the first gathering of its kind, gathering, to be held in the first quarter of 2009, underlining the significance of this forum and its benefits to the various economic sectors in the emirate, especially the industrial sector. The forum will highlight the importance of industrial activity as one of the most important contributors to the national economy. Sharjah is home to a great many small and medium enterprises, which are a crucial step towards achieving the objectives of sustainable development across the broader spectrum of economic sectors.

Al Mahmoud reflected on the general goals that SEDD aims to achieve by organising the forum, which include the fulfilment of the strategic goals of economic growth, support for the concept of dedicated industrial network, improving export activity, improving the local investment climate and contributing to Sharjah's role as a key player in the UAE's industrial sector.