Sharjah sees 8.2% rise in trade licences

The number of trade licences in Sharjah rose from 43,730 in 2007 to 47,636 in 2008, an increase of 8.2 per cent and economic growth rate in 2007 was 13.2 per cent compared to 2006.

The product of commodity production sector in 2008 was Dh29.6 billion, which forms 43.3 per cent of the emirate's gross domestic product in 2007. The product of transformational industries was Dh12.2bn, which account for 17.8 per cent of the GDP that totalled Dh68.4bn in 2007.

The figures were announced by Ali bin Salem Al Mahmoud, Director General of Sharjah Department of Economic Development. Al Mahmoud attributed the growth to the attractive investment climate, established by His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Executive Council.

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