Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry affirms commitment to develop industrial sector in Sharjah

Middle East plastic sector expected to achieve 30 per cent growth over next five years

Sharjah, UAE, August 13, 2008: The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) recently met with representatives of the National Plastic and Building Materials Industries to affirm its support for the local plastics sector and strengthen ties with its members and stakeholders in general.

Khaled Bin Butti, SCCI Assistant Director General for Membership and Branches, and Jacob Al Qassir, Chief of Industrial Development, represented the Chamber during the visit. The two officials were received by David J. Bray, Assistant Managing Director, and Hassab Al Rassoul Mohammed Al Aghbash, Administrative Manager, National Plastic and Building Materials Industries.

“The plastics sector is vital to Sharjah’s plans for sustainable development and economic growth, which the SCCI fully supports. We discussed the opportunities and challenges faced by this industry and offered our full assistance for its continued business growth. The Chamber is planning to attract more companies in the future to further expand our services to our members and the entire local private sector,” said Bin Butti.

The SCCI’s efforts to boost domestic business productivity have significantly enhanced Sharjah’s national and regional competitiveness. The Chamber continues to successfully attract more private sector companies to the emirate, as evidenced by a 16 per cent growth in SCCI’s new members for the first half of 2008 over 2007, with 3,824 additional organizations signing up. A total of 21,314 existing partners renewed their SCCI membership during the same period, representing a 19 per cent renewal rate increase.

“Our cooperation with SCCI enables us to enhance our regional and global credibility and strategically position our products in the booming Middle Eastern construction markets. The Chamber will continue to be of valuable assistance in promoting the activities of our company and our industry; we are looking forward to a greater role in developing the local industry sector,” said Hassab Al Rassoul Mohammed Al Aghbash, Administrative Manager, National Plastic and Building Materials Industries.

The UAE’s plastic industry continues to surge due to a construction boom, sustained trade and industry growth, and a rising population. It joins chemicals and aluminum as dominant industries related to the country’s industrial development. The Middle Eastern plastic industry in general is expected to achieve a 30 per cent growth over the next five years, the fastest rate in the world and a trend that National Plastic in collaboration with SCCI will fully take advantage of.

Established in 1975, National Plastic is a pioneering regional manufacturer of unplasticised polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene-based piping systems. The ISO 9002-certified company develops high quality plastic pipe systems, irrigation equipment, adhesives and specialty products which are distributed and marketed in more than 40 countries worldwide. Its production facilities have been expanded to cover more than 18,000 square metres.

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry is an organization dedicated to guiding domestic economic activity and enhancing cooperation between trade, industrial and professional sectors and local and national economic departments. The Chamber currently maintains four branches located in Khorfakkan, Kalbaa, Dibba Al Hisn and Al Dhaid. It also manages offices at Sharjah’s model Industrial Area, and the Department of Economic Development in Sharjah City.