SHARJAH - The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, SCCI, recently announced the completion of 15% of the infrastructure development project for the 10th industrial zone.

The project is under the patronage of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and in collaboration with the Sharjah Department of Town Planning and Survey, Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority, SRTA, and Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority, SEWA.

The project was launched last February to reconstruct the entire area, providing the best services to the people, promoting the Emirate’s competitiveness, developing its economic environment and its investment attractiveness and enhancing its sustainable development.

The total cost of the project is AED88 million and it is expected to be completed before its deadline. The technical committee of the project explained that the reconstruction process is divided into three phases throughout 18 months, and the first phase, which includes rainwater, water, gas, and electricity networks, is nearly complete.

The second phase focuses on pavements, the construction of internal roads and parking lots with entrances and exits for existing facilities in the area, in addition to installing a modern water network. It will also upgrade the communications network, and develop an integrated security system that includes a surveillance cameras network covering the entire area.

Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman, SCCI, said that the project implementation process is in full swing and the construction companies have been keen that excavation and reconstruction works will not affect the interests of the existing facilities, through the provision of appropriate entrances and traffic diversions, under instructions of the SCCI and its partners.

Al Owais underlined that the project is a foundation for future projects covering the entire industrial and commercial sectors in Sharjah to enhance its competitiveness and attractiveness, stressing that the SCCI is always eager to develop strategies supportive of the industrial sector.

This is part of the SCCI’s key role to promote and enhance the role of the industrial sector, as this would help reinforce the position of the Emirate as one of the global destinations for industries and a gateway to industrial supply across the Middle East.

Salah Bin Butti Al Muhairi, Vice-Chairman of the Sharjah Urban Planning Council and Chairman of the Authority of Initiatives Implementation and Infrastructure Development, said, "This project, in accordance with the directives of H.H. the Ruler of Sharjah, is adopting the innovative concept in Sharjah’s industrial sector which is the largest economic sectors. This sector accounts for 17 percent of the Emirate’s GDP and it attracts the attention of a large segment of society. Accordingly, the tenth industrial zone in Sharjah was chosen as a trailblazing project to upgrade its infrastructure facilities and we hope to achieve the work before September 2021." The industrial sector in the Emirate of Sharjah is the largest among the various emirates of the country, where Sharjah includes 21 industrial zones, at a rate of 2,800 industrial units. It also accommodates about 1/4 of the industrial labour nationwide.

© Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2020.