Global Arab Network | UAE - SCCI launches the Eighth Cycle of Sharjah Economic Excellence Award

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UAE - SCCI launches the Eighth Cycle of Sharjah Economic Excellence Award

Global Arab Network - - Maha Karim

Sunday, 11 October 2009 04:12

The General Secretariat of the Sharjah Economic Excellence Award (SEEA) has recently announced the formal launch of the 2009 cycle of the annual Sharjah Economic Excellence Award during a press conference held at the headquarters of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industries (SCCI). Now in its eighth year, the award continues to encourage the private sector to take up causes and initiatives that can help bolster Sharjah's economic growth and development.

Present during the launching were Hussein Mohammed Al Mahmoudi, SCCI Director General; Mohammed Ahmed Amin, Assistant Director General for Economic and International Affairs; Lalu Samuel, Managing Director - Peirlite Middle East and Keith Nuttal, Commercial Manager - Gulftainer Group.

During the press conference, the Al Mahmoudi outlined the award's criterion, participation conditions and other details. The award's batch of nominees will be judged and assessed based on three fundamentals of business success. The first fundamental concentrates on the full commitment rendered through cooperation, longevity, oneness of goal and interest in learning and sharing knowledge. The second fundamental concentrates on business effectiveness through flexibility, responsibility, cost estimation, effectiveness, quality, and discipline, and the third fundamental focuses on stakeholder respect, as demonstrated by modesty, freedom and independence, integrity, sympathy and assistance, respect, trust, openness and participation. The Award intends to promote good corporate governance, high standards of business ethics, corporate social responsibility and eco-friendly operations.

Al Mahmoudi said, "The Sharjah Economic Excellence Awards successfully complements SCCI's most important initiatives; helping boost the emirate's economic development; leveraging our members' standing in the local, regional and international trade market; and the achievement of organizational excellence through the adoption of high quality standards and international best practices. The SCCI, through its Board of Trustees and the Award's General Secretariat, have simplified the judging process by setting criteria based on three fundamentals of business success. This year's recipients are shining examples of how individuals and organizations can triumph and succeed amidst the current financial turmoil, showing us that excellence through best practices in business is needed to overcome all socio-economic challenges."

"Moreover, we are looking towards highlighting the award as the best means to encourage the private sector to adopt a culture of quality and excellence. The award serves as a reliable and timely gauge of how much our local businesses have achieved and how much more they can attain in the future," Al Mahmoudi said.

The standards adopted for the Sharjah Economic Excellence Award was developed and based on a fully integrated program aimed at recognizing the efforts of the private sector towards

Sharjah's continued economic growth. This year's cycle of the award witnessed a change in award categories, which included the addition of the Gold category and the Small and Medium firm's category. The 2009 cycle will feature a new category called the Sharjah Economic Excellence Award- Economic Personality of the Year, which will be adjudicated by a special committee appointed by the Secretariat.

The Sharjah Economic Excellence Award for the year 2009 has also managed to attract new sponsors from nominated companies and economic authorities, which include Perlite Middle East, the Headline Sponsor for this year's award and Gulftainer Limited, Gold Category Sponsor.

Nada Al-Hajri, General Coordinator, SEEA, said, "Companies need to improve their performance in accordance with international standards of quality and excellence. The award not only seeks to recognize economic excellence but also acknowledges creativity and encourages adoption of a culture of excellence within Sharjah's economic environment. Furthermore, we remain steadfast in our commitment to support the private sector through initiatives like the Sharjah Economic Excellence Award, which are aimed at strengthening SCCI ties with the private sector, supporting economic concepts and helping create business opportunities for the emirate."

The Award offers a free and independent assessment of the winning firm's performance by specialized experts, to be accompanied with a feedback report highlighting success areas and key points where improvements can be achieved. Other benefits include free advertisement in a Al Tijarah magazine and the Award's website; one-year free participation in SCCI's foreign exhibitions; inclusion in the VIP firms list of all government departments of Sharjah; facilities in World Trade Club, Sharjah TV and Expo Center Sharjah. The SCCI will also provide media and marketing based activities for the winning firm and will allow the use of the award logo for three years. Newer incentives being introduced for winners of this year's award is the exemption from Chamber's annual renewal fees for one year and the free usage of the SCCI headquarters hall to organize conferences and meetings for one day.

About the Award

Under the ideal economic environment enjoyed by the Emirate of Sharjah, the apposite directions of H.H Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry came to enhance the success factors of investment and business as a whole in this environment and its appropriate climate. The Chamber extended several means of motivation and encouragement to private sector establishments and businessmen, mainly the Top Ten Exporters Award allocated to industrialists and traders in Sharjah since 1990.

The Chamber developed this award to include in 1995 honoring the success and excellence elite of investment in its different areas. Thus, the Sharjah Economic Excellence award was created to honor the private economic establishments along with governmental departments in Sharjah, which extend distinctive services and upgraded their performance.

Moreover, the Chamber is keen to honor the pioneers of economic and investment work in Sharjah through the Chamber's celebration of its Silver Jubilee.

Based on this, the award won the support of H.H Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Bin Sultan Al Qassimi, the Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, to go ahead, after developing its content and bases, since 2002 according to new criteria and general and special conditions, and cover all sectors and fields under the kind care of His Highness. The award, which carries nowadays the title " Sharjah Economic Excellence Award, has become a symbol that embodies the appreciation of Sharjah of the influential and positive role of an elite of economic establishments that made creativity their methodology, distinction a means, quality a commitment and excellence a target for their services and activities and for steering their transactions and tightening their relations.

Indeed, the award has become an example for conferment and success in our genuine society.

Hussein Mohammad Al Mahmoudi Speech
Director General, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Your Excellencies;

Members of the media;
Ladies and Gentlemen

Good morning.

First of all, I would like to welcome all of you to this press conference to announce the launch of the Sharjah Economic Excellence Award for the year 2009. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone for taking time out to join us in this very important event that marks one of our leading initiatives aiming to promote good corporate governance, high

standards of quality and business ethics, corporate social responsibility and eco-friendly operations, in addition to strengthening the role of business organisations in promoting sustainable development and motivating them to pursue other growth plans to achieve success in the long term.

Distinguished guests;

The effects of the global financial crisis have underscored the urgent and pressing need to broaden the use and implementation of total quality and business development criteria, which aim to promote the regional and global competitiveness of the local business sector. It is our hope that the Award will ultimately become a benchmark for the private sector in Sharjah in terms of quality, excellence, best practices, value-added performance, productivity and sustainability.

Under the directions of H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, the SCCI has sought to enhance investment opportunities and strengthen the business community by launching an information campaign to educate the private sector about the promising opportunities being offered by the Award, particularly in terms of setting up a competitive business environment and encouraging creativity in the business and investment communities.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

This award reflects Sharjah's continuous focus on encouraging creativity, innovation and quality among companies based in the emirate, and the criteria specified for this award gives a chance to participating companies to highlight their strengths in their organizational structure and administration system. In this regard, we have developed the Award in terms of its criteria, methods and evaluation mechanism. This year, the Award is divided into Gold Category; Large Firms Category (Manufacturing, Trade,

Service, Financial and Tourism Sectors); Small & Medium Firms Category (Manufacturing, Trade, Service, Financial and Tourism Sectors) and Business Pioneers Category, an exclusive category for the UAE nationals which includes Industrial, Trade and Service Sectors.

There will also be a new category named as the Sharjah Economic Excellence Award - Economic Personality of the Year. This year, the Award has attracted new sponsors comprising leading organizations and companies in Sharjah.

This year, we have also introduced new benefits for the winners, such as exemption from the Chamber membership renewal fees for one year and using a hall in SCCI headquarters for conferences, workshops or meetings for one day. In addition, other benefits include: inclusion of the winning company's name on the VIP firms list in all government departments of Sharjah;

a year of special facilities for the winning firms in Sharjah World Business Club, Sharjah Broadcasting and TV Service and Sharjah Expo Centre fairs, and wide media exposure.

Finally, we would like to emphasize our commitment to recognize the excellent performance and investment activities of the establishments in Sharjah's private sector. And we also thank you all for your support in implementing our vision and promoting the economic development of the emirate.

Thank you once again for your presence today.

Good day to all

Mr. Lalu Samuel Speech
Managing Director - Pierlite Middle East
Head Line Sponsor for the year 2009

Distinguished Guests, members of the Press, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me express my heart- felt gratitude to His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohamed Al Qassimi, Ruler of Sharjah and His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Bin Sultan Al Qassimi Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah for their extra ordinary support and vision in developing and supporting Sharjah's Industrial base.

I take this opportunity to comment the Vision of His Excellency Ahmed Mohammed Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry to transform Sharjah as the epicenter of UAE's Industrial economy. Pierlite Middle East is honored

to be an associate partner as a Headline Sponsor of Sharjah Economic Excellence Award (SEEA) for the year 2009, which instills a sense of pride and success to its recipient.

The vigorous and strict screening process has made SEEA award, the much sought after "PRIZE" for corporates. This award not only brings in a sense of achievement but also it makes one determined to improve and excel in order to retain the glory next year.

I believe it's a social responsibility of each corporate in Sharjah to follow certain quality standards and practices to realize the dream of His Highness and place Sharjah made products among the top notch in the Global Market.

I also use this occasion to stress the importance of going green and preserving our resources for our children. I again thank His Highness for bestowing Pierlite with the honor of being an associate partner and also for making Sharjah a better place for all.

Thank you

Mr. Keith Nuttal
Commercial Manager - Gulftainer Group
Gold Category Sponsor for the year 2009

As a recent, proud, winner of the Sharjah Economic Excellence Awards, Gulftainer is delighted to be a Gold Category Sponsor. In these challenging times, the need for 'Excellence' is more important than ever and those companies that can maintain their quality whilst being flexible enough to adapt to changed circumstances are those that will survive and prosper.

The Gulftainer Group remains focused on its key strengths; Container Terminal Management - 'The best and most productive in the world' at Sharjah's Khorfakkan Container Terminal, according to our customers; logistics services including - Transport, Warehousing, Container Repair and Freight Solutions; and Overseas Ventures in Transport and Logistics in Turkey , the Comoros , Pakistan - and soon, Iraq.

We are happy to be here to support the initiatives of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry. We stand beside them in wishing to encourage all Sharjah companies to enter for the Sharjah Economic Excellence Award and finding out how they can continue to succeed and prosper- "through Excellence".

Thank you very much.

Headline Sponsor Profile
Pierlite Middle East

Pierlite Middle East is the regional arm of Pierlite Australia based at the Sharjah Airport International Free Zone.

Pierlite is the largest Australian Manufacturer of light fittings based in Sydney. Pierlite manufactures Commercial lighting for various applications. Started in 1930 in Australia, today Pierlite has operations in Australia, UK, India, Hongkong, New Zealand, UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Mozambiq, and East Africa.

Pierlite Middle East handles marketing, design and technical support for Commercial Lighting Solution for the entire Middle East and African countries.

Pierlite Middle East with a 150,000 sqft most modern manufacturing facility is able to cater to any immediate requirement of the customers in the region and employs over 2000 people.

Gold Category Sponsor Profile
Gulftainer Company Limited

Gulftainer Co. Ltd., a privately owned UAE enterprise, established in 1976, manages and operates two modern Container Terminals and an Inland Container Depot on behalf of Sharjah Port Authority in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

Today Khorfakkan in particular is one of the region's leading container terminals and together with Sharjah Container Terminal handled over 2.5 million TEU in 2008.

Gulftainer was appointed in 2006 by the government of the Comoros Islands to manage the ports of Moroni (immediately) and Mutsamudu (at a future date).

Joint ventures also exist in Turkey and Pakistan, with future developments imminent in Iraq. In 2008 Gulftainer established 'Momentum', a third party Logistics Company focusing on Transport, Warehousing, Container Repair and Logistics/ Freight solutions.

Global Arab Network

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