Going global

What are your plans for Sharjah?
The next five years will focus on three main growth elements. The first is industry, second is retail, third is tourism. We have chosen these since we have a substantial investment base in Sharjah. Forty-eight percent of industry is based in Sharjah. What we are planning to do is build on this base by providing better infrastructure in the industrial areas by acting pro-actively, which is what investors need, and by planning new industrial areas in the outskirts of Sharjah.

In retail, the market has been under development in Sharjah for some time. Several new stores have opened and will have a positive effect on the economy. What we are trying to do now is concentrate the investment in a system, promoting and developing a region.

We also have a unique approach to tourism. Regional tourism is dependent on certain factors. One is shopping, another is entertainment and then there is the local experience. We have developed "edutainment," or educational entertainment. We have 14 museums in Sharjah that provide visitors an interactive experience about the history and the culture of the UAE.

What kind of industries do you want to develop in Sharjah?
I think there is a lot that we can do. But plastics is an area that is going to do really well. It is a very good industry with lots of potential. Chemical industries and some of the other paint industries will also develop in Sharjah. And the food industry. I think the food industry is a something that's a lot more consistent. We also have several technology companies in the various free zones in Sharjah.

How has free zone development progressed in Sharjah?
We started just four years ago. And we now have 500 companies and over 10 percent of them are technology-related. I have seen that it all started two years ago when we started attracting all kinds of investment. In fact, we have doubled the number of companies that have developed over the last two years and we hope to triple the number of companies in the years to come.

How does Sharjah compete with its neighbors?
Sharjah doesn't really compete with anyone. Sharjah has its own agenda.

Why should somebody come to Sharjah, rather than Dubai or Muscat?
Well, the interesting thing about this is that investors have a choice. And I think we have more advantages than Dubai or Muscat or somebody else has. Any investor who is coming here is looking for cost benefits and service. I think our cost structure is quite low and our service is good in terms of an international airport. And Sharjah has three seaports. Because we are small, we can fill the need for each of the industries; we personalize our services, our team is very pro-active and this is the main contribution of Sharjah. People are not coming just because this is just another place.

How will Sharjah handle globalization?
I dont think there will be any problems associated with globalization that the UAE or Sharjah will face. We are already an open market. I think the UAE is more adapted to competition, foreign investment and any other related elements and this will give it an advantage over the others. Global economies are suffering because of competition, but we have always fared well in the face of international competition.

What challenges do you face?
Sharjah has sustained high growth for quite some time. We've seen a very healthy growth rate varying from eight to 12 percent, and I think the biggest challenge for me is to sustain that growth rate. People have gotten used to the jumps in the economy, and the main competitive spirit that has been the growth of the whole of the UAE. The challenge is also in how to become more and more attractive and get more and more industries in. I guess to sustain that rate is the biggest challenge.

How can we maintain this growth? Combine economic development and social development. I think these are the challenges that face Sharjah. With the direction of the government, which is socially very conscious, we have invested heavily in education.

Where are your plans internationally?
We are looking ahead to the next five years - not now. We are now mainly focused on Germany. This is a very good market. There are other places but in Germany we are focused on creating an awareness of what Sharjah has to offer in the region because we have one sort of standard in the UAE. We first have to create awareness locally, then regionally, then internationally.