SCC discusses developments of SPCFZA

The session was attended by Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Member of the Executive Council of Sharjah and Chairman of the Authority, along with His Excellency Mohammed Mir Abdul Rahman Al Sarrah, Director of Ports and Customs, and His Excellency Saud Salem Al Mazrouei, Director of the Hamriyah Free Zone and Sharjah International Airport Free Zone.

Following this, His Excellency Ahmed Saeed Al Jarwan, Secretary-General of the Sharjah Consultative Council (SCC) , presented the general topic concerning the discussion of the policy of the Sharjah Ports, Customs, and Free Zones Authority, stating: "His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi,  Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, issued Law Decree No. 5 of 2020 regarding the establishment and organization of the Sharjah Ports, Customs, and Free Zones Authority. According to this law decree, the authority oversees the following entities in the emirate: 'maritime ports, customs centers, border points, the Hamriyah Free Zone, and the Sharjah International Airport Free Zone.' Given the importance of reviewing the authority's operations and its responsibilities in supporting the national economy and creating an attractive investment environment according to the best global standards, the applicants wish to discuss this matter in the interest of public welfare."

Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Member of the Executive Council of Sharjah and Chairman of the Authority, then delivered a speech in which he stated: "First, I would like to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to you and the members of this esteemed council on behalf of the Sharjah Ports, Customs, and Free Zones Authority for your continuous support of the authority's activities and events, which translate the insightful vision and high directives of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, and the generous patronage of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, which has been the greatest motivation for the authority's relentless pursuit of success and achievements at various levels."

He then addressed the authority's policies and services, emphasizing that the Sharjah Seaports, Customs, and Free Zones Authority carries out numerous tasks and responsibilities that play a significant and effective role in supporting the tourism and commercial sectors.

Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah bin Sultan Al Qasimi stated: "The Sharjah Ports, Customs, and Free Zones Authority has developed strategies inspired by the developmental approach of the United Arab Emirates, aligning its vision with the directions of the federal and local governments in the Executive Council of Sharjah. This includes efforts to streamline bureaucracy and digitize services through the establishment of digital platforms for the services offered by the authority to its stakeholders, as well as expanding the use of artificial intelligence in the administrative and operational systems to organize priorities and reduce the time needed for completion."

He continued: "The authority has also ensured that industrial development aligns with the state's objectives and has prioritized environmental sustainability. The development is based on environmental standards that preserve the sustainability of natural resources. Additionally, community development has been a key part of our strategy to engage with the community of Sharjah through sponsorship and participation in various national, heritage, social, and sports events. The authority’s investment in the nation’s youth and its methodology in preparing the second and third tiers of leaders for nationalization, in line with the government’s wise vision, has been and remains one of the authority's top priorities. This national program is implemented within a structured and studied framework that achieves the state's objectives in empowering citizens."

The commitment to these pillars, along with a realistic study of investment climates and their changes, and the approach based on economic studies of promising investment markets, targeting specialized industries, and confidence in national competencies, as well as consulting their opinions and utilizing their field and administrative expertise, has been fundamental in establishing a comprehensive national investment system. This system has nurtured the principles of development and has identified Sharjah as a strategic investment destination in global economic forums.

Afterward, 18 members participated in raising their questions and inquiries. Member Rashid Abdullah Said bin Huwaidan Al Kitbi, in his intervention, addressed the topic of nationalizing jobs in free zones, noting that investment in the Sharjah International Airport Free Zone and the Hamriyah Free Zone mainly relies on foreign investments that do not impose nationalization. He emphasized the importance of encouraging the authority to nationalize some jobs, even if to a limited extent, through incentives that support job opportunities for citizens. He also inquired about the possibility of developing a specialized free zone for food and supply chains to enhance sustainable food security in Sharjah.

Member Fatima Khalifa Abdullah Al Muqarrab Al Suwaidi highlighted the authority's role in empowering the private sector and developing partnerships with investors. She expressed her desire to understand how the authority integrates with local departments to study the challenges faced by investors and stimulate the investment environment. She questioned the role of Sharjah Customs in activating the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPA) to reduce customs duties and its impact on the local economy. Additionally, she addressed the importance of cooperation between the authority and educational institutions to qualify students and link educational outcomes to labor market requirements.

Member Tarek Murad Mirza Barkat Al-Balooshi inquired about the possibility of nationalizing supervisory and regulatory positions within the authority, particularly those related to gates in free zones, calling for a strengthened national role in these areas. He also suggested increasing the presence of security patrols in free zones and utilizing retired military personnel to support these efforts, in addition to asking about the authority’s plans to expand the Kalba land border crossing to enhance economic and tourism activity.

Member Abdullah Tarish Rashid Abdullah Al-Ketbi raised several inquiries regarding the development of the logistics transport network in the free zones and the importance of collaborating with the Etihad Rail to connect the free zones. He asked about plans to link the ports to the Sajaa industrial area with a rail network to improve the flow of goods.

Member Mohammed Abdullah Al-Balooshi focused his intervention on expediting customs clearance processes through the implementation of innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence. He proposed providing integrated digital services via an electronic platform to enable clients to track their shipments and their customs statuses.

Engineer Nabil bin Batti Al-Muhairi discussed the lack of operation of the Sajaa permanent crossing despite the completion of the project in 2019, demanding a plan for its operation. He also inquired about the authority's plans to accommodate graduates of the Sharjah Maritime Academy and how to support them in the job market, in addition to asking about the necessity of signing a service level agreement with Sharjah Municipality to enhance the quality of laboratory services provided to companies.

For his part, member Saeed Matar bin Hamed Al-Tuniji inquired about the incentives or training programs offered by the authority to support small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly in the area of exports. He also raised a question about the use of sustainable energy in free zones to reduce operational costs and promote environmental sustainability.

Member Abdullah Ali Al-Badawi Al-Hosani requested clarification from the authority regarding the strategic plans for organizing maritime navigation operations and improving the efficiency of import and export processes. He inquired about the authority's programs for combating smuggling and how to develop the skills of national personnel in this field.

Member Rashid Saleh Al-Hamadi raised several questions about enhancing the status of Sharjah ports on the global maritime map, asking whether there are plans to purchase or manage international ports to increase trade volume. He also inquired about the possibility of transforming the authority into a joint-stock company to raise the necessary budget to keep pace with future expansions.

Member Issa Al-Zarouni discussed the economic returns that the emirate of Sharjah achieves from companies operating in the free zones. He raised questions about the application of federal decisions to these companies and spoke about the cooperation between the free zones in Sharjah and other emirates, emphasizing the authority's benefit from local expertise. He also proposed the establishment of a specialized academy for managing and operating free zones in collaboration with the University of Sharjah.

For her part, member Sheikha Khalfan Al-Zaneen Al-Naqbi posed several inquiries regarding the authority's plans to develop the ports and free zones and improve their capacity to meet future investor needs. She also asked how to enhance the competitiveness of Sharjah ports and attract investors through the policies and facilities in place.

After the presenters concluded, council members began to actively raise inquiries aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the authority's work and improving the investment environment in the emirate of Sharjah.

Member Jassim Mohammed Al-Hanawi Al-Naqbi discussed the application of blockchain technology within the authority as part of the UAE's Digital Transactions Strategy 2021. He asked about areas of cooperation with the Sharjah Digital Department to expedite the implementation of these technologies.

Member Mohammed Al-Alawi Al-Zuhuri requested coordination with relevant authorities to improve the two land crossings at Dibba Al-Hisn and alleviate congestion during entry and exit processes. He also inquired about the possibility of reopening the Dibba Al-Hisn sea port to serve citizens and tourism companies.

Member Hamad Al-Qawadi Al-Hamadi asked whether rewards or grants could be offered to retired personnel who have served the authority for several decades, emphasizing the importance of such recognition in motivating future generations to work in vital areas such as ports and free zones.

Member Salem Mohammed Al-Rashedi proposed the creation of a unified website that gathers all free zones in Sharjah to enhance investment attraction efforts, and he asked about the authority's vision for developing its resources through various investments.

Member Dr. Ahmed Saleh Al-Naqbi suggested reducing the customs tax on imported goods to 4.5% instead of 5% to attract medium and small companies to engage with the authority.

Member Issa Al-Kalbani inquired about the statistics on customs center entrances and the financial resources they generate. Member Ibrahim Jumaa Al-Mansouri asked about the authority's benefit from the outputs of the Sharjah Academy of Maritime Sciences, including research, graduates, and studies.

Member Yusuf Mohammed Al-Mazrouei questioned the development of Khorfakkan Port as a strategic port and its global competitiveness. Member Engineer Jamila Al-Fandi Al-Shamsi called for enhancing the authority's media policies to provide informative messages in multiple languages about the services offered, as well as its outlets and its efforts to attract visitors and investors, given the authority's success locally, regionally, and globally.

Member Mohammed Ali Jaber Al-Hammadi inquired about the authority's ability to undergo administrative and technical restructuring to accommodate current developments and keep pace with changes.

Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Member of the Executive Council of Sharjah and Chairman of the Authority, along with his colleagues, addressed various questions from members, affirming that the authority continues to improve the investment environment and support the national economy by leveraging modern technology and expanding infrastructure to meet future challenges and changes.

He pointed out that the authority encourages foreign investment in the free zones and is committed to the founding provisions that allow for full ownership by foreigners. He added that there are studies underway to propose incentives for nationalizing certain specific jobs, in line with national trends aimed at enhancing localization across various sectors. The possibility of offering training programs to support free zone companies to attract national talent will also be explored.

In this context, he highlighted the importance of achieving a spirit of integration and cohesion and the ongoing efforts to enhance the efficiency and readiness of customs centers and border points across the emirate by improving operational performance, simplifying procedures, and developing customer services, in line with Sharjah Government's strategy to elevate the operational framework at Sharjah's outlets, thereby contributing to supporting and enhancing the national economy and facilitating trade and travel.

In response to the questions, it was noted that field visits and continuous inspections of customs centers would continue to ensure compliance with all evaluation standards set by auditing and assessment teams from local, federal, and security entities. This approach ensures that these centers are fully prepared to meet all evaluation requirements and equip personnel with the skills needed for those requirements.

The Chairman of the Sharjah Ports, Customs, and Free Zones Authority emphasized that all digital transformation projects underway, including the single-window project for customs services, are equipped with artificial intelligence technologies. These projects are designed to be sustainable, innovative, user-friendly for both employees and clients, and will be evaluated periodically to keep pace with developments and updates that align with the requirements of each stage.

Before concluding the session, Secretary-General of the Council, announced that the next session will be held on Thursday, November 28, 2024. The topic will be the discussion of a draft law for 2024 concerning the amendment of Law No. (2) of 2021 regarding human resources for military personnel in Sharjah, as well as the discussion of a draft law for 2024 regarding the reorganization of the police and security force in Sharjah.