SHARJAH, 23rd July, 2020 (WAM) — The Sharjah Foundation for Supporting Entrepreneurial Projects, “Rowad,” affiliated to the Sharjah Economic Development Department, continued its achievements during the second quarter of this year, in which it enhanced its services and facilities to attract more male and female entrepreneurs to the small and medium enterprises sector, providing them with all they need in terms of guidance, consultations, training, qualification, technical support, and financial financing to enable them to benefit from the available opportunities in the commercial, service and industrial fields, and contribute to the prosperity of the economy of the Emirate of Sharjah and the UAE, and ensure diversity and integration among all sectors that make up the output. gross domestic.
His Excellency Sultan Abdullah bin Hadda Al Suwaidi, Chairman of the Sharjah Economic Development Department, appreciated the facilities and exemptions provided by government institutions to enhance the attractive environment for small and medium enterprises, which contributed to motivating more entrepreneurs to establish many commercial, service and industrial projects, covering a large number of fields and contributing to the development and prosperity of Sharjah’s economy and giving it more competitive capabilities and diversity that increases its stability and attracts wider segments of investors.
His Excellency pointed out that the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and the follow-up of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Executive Council, made the emirate a preferred destination in the region for innovative pioneering projects and increased the contribution of this vital sector to the GDP of Sharjah and the United Arab Emirates, and at the same time contributed to enhancing the participation of male and female citizens in their country’s economy and community service.
For his part, His Excellency Hamad Ali Abdullah Al Mahmoud, Director of the Sharjah Foundation for Supporting Entrepreneurial Projects “Rowad”, confirmed that the second quarter of this year witnessed a great interaction by entrepreneurs with the initiatives and projects implemented by the Foundation and a remarkable demand for obtaining its various services in light of the increasing interest in establishing individual and group projects and benefiting from the facilities provided by “Rowad” and government institutions for the sons and daughters of the UAE to enter the private sector and expand projects that enhance the country’s competitiveness in the entrepreneurial sector. The government agencies that are members of the Foundation during the second quarter of this year exceeded 968 thousand dirhams.
He added that the Foundation received, during the months of April, May and June, 15 requests for financing in various activities, which were studied in all their details and ensured that they comply with the conditions and criteria set, and reviewed the feasibility study for each project, and then approved the approval of financing three projects, of which the Foundation found high opportunities for competitiveness and continuity.
He pointed out that the number of projects whose owners applied for membership of the Foundation in the second quarter of this year amounted to 102 projects, of which 66 projects were approved to be granted “pioneers” membership, while the total number of projects that were approved to renew their membership for the second or third year reached 69 projects to be exempted from all government fees. It was also approved to extend the membership of 14 projects for the fourth or fifth year, with exemption from half of the government fees.
With regard to the geographical distribution of the projects joining the Corporation, the city of Sharjah acquired 51.52% of them, with 34 projects (22 commercial projects and 12 service projects), and the city of Kalba came second with 15 projects (9 commercial projects and 6 service projects) with a rate of 22.73%, and the city of Khorfakkan acquired 6 projects (4 commercial and 2 service projects) with a rate of 9.09%, in addition to 4 projects in Madam City (3 commercial and 1 service) at a rate of 6.06%, compared to 3 commercial projects in Al Dhaid City (4.55%), two commercial projects in Al Hamriya City (3.03%), and one commercial project in each of Maliha and Dibba Al Hisn (1.52% each).
As for the classification of projects according to the type of activity, the food sector topped the list of projects that obtained “pioneers” membership during the second quarter of 2023, with 26 projects constituting a rate of 39.4%, then designing and sewing women’s fashion, which amounted to 6 projects, at a rate of 9.1%, in addition to 5 projects in the field of beauty centers (7.6%), 4 projects in the car maintenance sector (6.1%), and 3 projects in the field of flower and natural plant trade and car washing (4.5%). %) and two projects in the field of law firms and fitness clubs (3%). The rest of the projects came in various fields such as restaurant management, perfume and perfume trade, gift trade, mobile phone trade, security and safety systems trade, order delivery services, advertising, stationery and others (1.5% for each activity).
In an effort by the Sharjah Foundation to Support Entrepreneurial Projects “Rowad” to enhance and intensify its integrated services provided to those wishing to enter the small and medium enterprises sector, in the second quarter of this year, it provided 22 different consultations to male and female entrepreneurs, with a growth rate of 175% compared to the second quarter of 2022, while its employees responded to 1565 phone calls related to inquiries and follow-up about “Rowad” programs, services and activities.
In terms of interviews with project owners applying for the Foundation’s services, during the second quarter of 2023, “Ruwad” employees conducted 65 interviews to evaluate the advanced projects and ensure that they comply with the conditions and standards set by the Foundation.
The “Rowad” work teams carried out 41 field visits to projects and directed 191 letters to government agencies to support or exempt projects joining the organization’s membership.
During the second quarter of 2023, the Foundation organized eight training programs, in which 186 trainees (including 128 female and 58 male entrepreneurs) participated, with a total of 82 training hours.
These programs included a course on building marketing strategies for small projects, the foundations for building successful projects, risk management for small projects, another course on the economic feasibility study, two introductory workshops on the Foundation’s services for employees of the Emirates Retirement Association and the Sharjah Museums Authority, and many other workshops.
“Ruwwad” organized a mini master’s program and specialized diploma programs during the period from 6 to 16 March, with the participation of 30 entrepreneurs and 16 female entrepreneurs, with a total of 130 training hours. The satisfaction rate for all training programs reached 96%.
In order to enable its members to take advantage of the commercial opportunities available in the largest exhibitions, events and festivals organized by Sharjah and to allow them to introduce their products and services to a wider audience, “Rowad” nominated in the second quarter of 2023 2 of its members to participate in the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival that was held at the Sharjah Expo Center during the period between May 6 and 14, and 4 in the Emirates Jewels Festival that was held on the site during June 2023.
2023-07-23 13:26:38
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