The number of trade licences issued and renewed in the first half of this year by the Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD) has risen by 12.8 per cent compared with the same period in 2007.
In total, 26,137 licences have been issued this year, while the figure for the first half of last year was 23,170.
The SEDD works to boost private sector's contribution to the rapidly growing economy across trading, service and industrial sectors by offering incentives and facilities. The aim is to create an investor-friendly climate and attract more capital.
The department issued 3,657 new licenses between January 1 and June 30 this year, which were divided into three categories.
Meanwhile, commercial licences accounted for 1,606 of the total, while 1,979 were professional and 72 industrial licenses.
There was a 17.9 per cent growth in the number of new licences compared with the 3,102 issued in the same period in 2007.
"Out of the number of licences issued and renewed in the first half of 2008, 50.4 per cent were commercial, 46.7 per cent professional and 2.9 per cent industrial – equal to 13,161, 12,199 and 772 respectively," said Ali bin Salem Al Mahmood, Director-General of the department.
"There were also five vocational licences issued this year. However, the lion's share of the licences – 15,425 – was allotted to the city of Sharjah, accounting for 59 per cent of the total. This was followed by 6,587 licences for the industrial area, 1,660 for Al Dhaid, 1,361 for Khorfakkan and 1,104 for Kalba, which is equal to 25.2 per cent, 6.4 per cent, 5.2 per cent and 4.2 per cent respectively," said Mahmood.