Sharjah24: Strategically located in the emirate of Sharjah, where tradition and innovation converge, Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone (SPCFZ), established in 2017 as the world's first publishing free zone, has been a catalyst for transforming Middle Eastern publishing and a magnet for Indian entrepreneurs looking to make their mark globally. With over 2,000 Indian-owned businesses, including 600 in publishing-related fields such as digital platforms and E-books, SPCFZ is a beacon of collaboration, innovation, and growth, offering an ideal environment for businesses seeking to expand on the global stage.

A thriving ecosystem for publishers and beyond
SPCFZ's appeal lies in its multifaceted support system tailored for businesses in the publishing and creative sectors. The Free Zone offers 100% foreign ownership, a rarity in many business landscapes, and this enables Indian entrepreneurs to have complete control over their ventures while enjoying the numerous benefits of operating within Sharjah. In addition, SPCFZ grants a hassle-free passage for goods in and out of the free zone, making it an ideal logistics hub for businesses serving global markets.

Gateway to over 2 billion potential customers
Indian businesses operating within SPCFZ benefit from access to a vast global market, thanks to Sharjah's strategic location at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. 
This geographical advantage enables Indian publishers and businesses to extend their influence far beyond national borders and reach diverse markets, all the while leveraging world-class infrastructure and facilities to their advantage.

The SPC Free Zone houses cutting-edge office spaces and warehouses tailored to the specific needs of businesses, ensuring that operations run seamlessly. Additionally, businesses have access to a range of amenities, including co-working spaces, an auditorium, a meeting centre, events hall, and access to a diverse and expansive ecosystem of companies from around the globe, creating an environment conducive to innovation and collaboration.

Mansour Al Hassani, Director of SPCFZ, commented on the thriving environment of Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone, saying, “We pride ourselves on our dynamic ecosystem where we enable entrepreneurs from all around the world to unleash their creative potential within the publishing sector in Sharjah. Indian businesses represent a major share of SPCFZ’s membership, and we have become a launchpad for these entrepreneurs, facilitating their ability to help redefine the future of global publishing.”

India is currently the UAE’s second biggest global trading partner, with their bilateral trade in goods and services surpassing $80 billion per year. The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), signed in May 2022, set the stage for even greater collaboration in years to come and recent high-level discussions between leaders from both nations have emphasised their commitment to boosting cooperation in trade, investment, and innovation. The shared aim is to achieve a $100 billion/year bilateral trade target by 2026, highlighting the promising future of their economic partnership. 

A fertile ground for diversity
SPCFZ stands as a symbol of the global reach of publishing and creative industries that operate from Sharjah, and its flexible licensing options also extend beyond the publishing industry to accommodate a wide range of over 1,500 business activities, including e-Commerce, Cyber Security, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, BioTech, Robotics, and Consulting, to name a few. This inclusivity allows entrepreneurs to explore new opportunities and diversify their portfolios, all while operating in a nurturing environment.

Within its directive and commitment to fostering creativity, innovation, and collaboration, SPCFZ is a platform for entrepreneurs from India and beyond, to realise their dreams and leave an indelible mark on the global publishing landscape from within Sharjah.

To learn more about Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone (SPCFZ) and to register your business, visit the SPCFZ website at https://spcfz.ae/.