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Sharjah / Emirates Business
With the UAE topping the Middle East and North Africa market for Italian products, Sharjah is looking at taking full advantage of the growing trade and business relations with the UAE and Italy.
A Sharjah team led by Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO, Expo Centre Sharjah, is in Italy to boost trade ties with Bergamo, one of the dynamic and industrialised regions in Italy.
Midfa, along with P Ravi, Director, Sales & Marketing, Expo Centre Sharjah, held meetings with several stakeholders in Italy, including Paolo Malvestiti, President, Bergamo Chamber of Commerce (BCC), and Ivan Rodeschini, President, Promoberg (Expo Centre Bergamo).
“The UAE is not only a gateway for Italian products to the entire MENA region but also an important market in itself, mainly in the jewellery and machinery sectors. Significantly, trade shows that target these sectors were top on the agenda of our talks,†said Midfa.
The biannual MidEast Watch & Jewellery Show and the annual SteelFab are the flagship events of Expo Centre Sharjah that have impressive presence of Italian pavilions and exhibitors, apart from the support of prestigious trade and industry promotion bodies.
The talks mainly focused on mutual cooperation, and how the BCC could facilitate the participation of more companies and manufacturers from Bergamo, which has a well-defined industrial sector that is active in engineering, textiles, chemicals, food and building materials, at Expo Centre Sharjah events.
“Italy and several of its provinces have enough know-how and resources to provide quality products and technology to the UAE and the rest of the region, particularly since the Gulf Cooperation Council states are gradually moving away from oil dependence. The well-established trade shows at Expo Centre Sharjah offer a great opportunity for the industrial sector of Bergamo to tap into the huge potential of the UAE and the rest of the region,†added Midfa.
The modalities for signing memoranda of understanding with the Bergamo Chamber of Commerce and Promoberg are being worked out and both the sides aim to sign the deals during the upcoming 42nd MidEast Watch & Jewellery Show that will be held at Expo Centre Sharjah from April 4-8, 2017.
Trade between the UAE and Italy touched a record US$7.9 billion in 2015, with Italy’s exports to the UAE standing at over US$6.9bn and the country’s imports – mainly oil products and precious metals – touching US$1bn.