SCCI launches the eighth cycle of Sharjah Economic Excellence Award for the year 2009

Now in its eighth year, the award continues to encourage the private sector to take up causes and initiatives that can help bolster Sharjah's economic growth and development.

Present during the launching were Hussein Mohammed Al Mahmoudi, SCCI Director General; Mohammed Ahmed Amin, Assistant Director General for Economic and International Affairs; Lalu Samuel, Managing Director - Peirlite Middle East and Keith Nuttal, Commercial Manager - Gulftainer Group.

During the press conference, the Al Mahmoudi outlined the award's criterion, participation conditions and other details. The award's batch of nominees will be judged and assessed based on three fundamentals of business success. The first fundamental concentrates on the full commitment rendered through cooperation, longevity, oneness of goal and interest in learning and sharing knowledge.

The second fundamental concentrates on business effectiveness through flexibility, responsibility, cost estimation, effectiveness, quality, and discipline, and the third fundamental focuses on stakeholder respect, as demonstrated by modesty, freedom and independence, integrity, sympathy and assistance, respect, trust, openness and participation.

The Award intends to promote good corporate governance, high standards of business ethics, corporate social responsibility and eco-friendly operations.

Al Mahmoudi said, "The Sharjah Economic Excellence Awards successfully complements SCCI's most important initiatives; helping boost the emirate's economic development; leveraging our members' standing in the local, regional and international trade market; and the achievement of organizational excellence through the adoption of high quality standards and international best practices.

The SCCI, through its Board of Trustees and the Award's General Secretariat, have simplified the judging process by setting criteria based on three fundamentals of business success. This year's recipients are shining examples of how individuals and organizations can triumph and succeed amidst the current financial turmoil, showing us that excellence through best practices in business is needed to overcome all socio-economic challenges."

"Moreover, we are looking towards highlighting the award as the best means to encourage the private sector to adopt a culture of quality and excellence. The award serves as a reliable and timely gauge of how much our local businesses have achieved and how much more they can attain in the future,"

Al Mahmoudi said.

The standards adopted for the Sharjah Economic Excellence Award was developed and based on a fully integrated program aimed at recognizing the efforts of the private sector towards

Sharjah's continued economic growth. This year's cycle of the award witnessed a change in award categories, which included the addition of the Gold category and the Small and Medium firm's category. The 2009 cycle will feature a new category called the Sharjah Economic Excellence Award— Economic Personality of the Year, which will be adjudicated by a special committee appointed by the Secretariat.

The Sharjah Economic Excellence Award for the year 2009 has also managed to attract new sponsors from nominated companies and economic authorities, which include Perlite Middle East, the Headline Sponsor for this year's award and Gulftainer Limited, Gold Category Sponsor.

Nada Al-Hajri, General Coordinator, SEEA, said, "Companies need to improve their performance in accordance with international standards of quality and excellence.

The award not only seeks to recognize economic excellence but also acknowledges creativity and encourages adoption of a culture of excellence within Sharjah's economic environment.

Furthermore, we remain steadfast in our commitment to support the private sector through initiatives like the Sharjah Economic Excellence Award, which are aimed at strengthening SCCI ties with the private sector, supporting economic concepts and helping create business opportunities for the emirate."

The Award offers a free and independent assessment of the winning firm's performance by specialized experts, to be accompanied with a feedback report highlighting success areas and key points where improvements can be achieved.

Other benefits include free advertisement in a Al Tijarah magazine and the Award's website; one-year free participation in SCCI's foreign exhibitions; inclusion in the VIP firms list of all government departments of Sharjah; facilities in World Trade Club, Sharjah TV and Expo Center Sharjah.

The SCCI will also provide media and marketing based activities for the winning firm and will allow the use of the award logo for three years.

Newer incentives being introduced for winners of this year's award is the exemption from Chamber's annual renewal fees for one year and the free usage of the SCCI headquarters hall to organize conferences and meetings for one day.