Processing .....please wait.. 
The article has been forwarded.... 
Sharjah seeks larger Indian trade presence
Thursday, 15 May 2003, 19:30 IST
NEW DELHI: Sharjah has sought a larger Indian presence at the annual Ramadan Shopping Festival to boost bilateral cooperation between India and the United Arab Emirates.
To facilitate two-way trade and investment flow, the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) and the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry have decided to set up special liaison desks.
An agreement on this had been signed in September last year in Sharjah.
"We have taken a major step by finalising plans to set up a one-man desk at both the chambers by September to help maintain a flow of information and provide any assistance required by businessmen on either side," Saeed Obaid Al Jarwan, the Sharjah chamber director general, told IANS.
Leading a four-member delegation, Al Jarwan is here on a three-day visit to attend the first meeting of the Indo-UAE Business Working Committee and explore ways of boosting bilateral trade.
The Sharjah-based Indian Business and Professional Council (IPBC) is part of the visiting delegation.
During 2002-03, flourishing bilateral trade between India and the UAE witnessed over 30 percent growth to reach about $3.4 billion, with Indian exports reaching $2.48 billion.
Prior to setting up the business promotion desks, Al Jarwan said officials on both sides would be trained "so that the person is capable of providing full support for fostering joint ventures and trade".
"For that it is essential to have a full knowledge of the potential and requirements as also all the information about the two countries."
To facilitate the flow of information, Internet links between the sites of both chambers has been proposed. On the anvil is a solo exhibition of Indian products to be organised in Sharjah next year, said Al Jarwan.
"We have urged Indian companies to participate in good strength in our next Ramadan Shopping Festival, designed on the lines of Dubai Shopping Festival, to be held for 40 days from October 21," he said.
Both the chambers are keen to encourage joint ventures, explore investment opportunities and promote tourism. For this more seminars and regular business meetings have been proposed.
The Sharjah chamber is also keen on India setting up a permanent exhibition centre in the emirate along the lines of a complex set up by China.
The delegation has sought the help of state-owned India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) and the National Small Industries Corporation to push ahead plans of an exhibition centre.
"We are keen to have ITPO help us to set up a permanent exhibition centre in Sharjah as it will provide a tremendous boost to the small and medium enterprises in particular," said IBPC chairman Sudesh K. Aggarwal.
"We are happy that concrete steps are being taken to foster bilateral cooperation by moving ahead on the memorandum of cooperation signed last year. This is a very good beginning."
Source: IANS
Source: IANS