SHARJAH — The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, (SCCI) celebrated recently the first anniversary of the establishment of the Small & Medium Enterprises Center (Tijarah 101), one of the SCCI’s initiatives to support and motivate young people to engage in commercial and economic business, and to create positive a work environment to promote sustainable development in society. The virtual ceremony was attended by Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, SCCI chairman, the SCCI board members Raghda Tarim, Mohammed Hilal Al-Hazami, and Muhammad Rashid Al-Dimas, Mohammad Ahmed Amin Al-Awadi, SCCI director-general, Mona Omran Ali, director of Tijarah 101 Center, and members and employees of the Center. Addressing the Center members, Al Owais expressed his happiness with the success achieved by the first batch of the trainees, in spite of the challenges they have faced upon launching their projects due to COVID-19 pandemic, however, they have proven their perseverance and their ability to make their projects sustainable. “The Chamber attaches special importance to assisting and supporting small and medium-sized youth enterprises especially the members of Tijarah 101, by creating the appropriate climate for establishing and enhancing the capabilities of entrepreneurial projects and overcoming all challenges they confront, so as to achieve the ultimate goal of success, growth, and expansion,” “By the beginning of next year, Tijarah 101 premises will be integrated ones in terms of attracting a greater number of companies, whether from members or non-members,” Al Owais underlined, “Our goal is to make the Center more vibrant by turning it into a meeting point for business owners, which will help boost trainees’ experience.” He pointed out the priority will be given to the center’s affiliates from the event management companies to take part in organizing a number of exhibitions at Expo Center Sharjah, Expo Al Dhaid, and Expo Khor Fakkan. Congratulating the members and trainees of Tijarah 101 on their success in the management of their own projects, Al-Awadi said: “Since it was founded, Tijarah 101 has witnessed huge turnout by Emirati entrepreneurs and ambitious and creative youth willing to gain more experience through several training courses provided by the Center, including managing and organizing exhibitions, auditing, tax collection, translation, e-commerce, hospitality, design, and design photography.” Al-Awadi noted that the Center currently includes 13 members, which are greater than the target number, underlining the SCCI’s commitment to utilizing its expertise in serving the interests of entrepreneurs to meet their aspirations and ambitions in accordance with the highest international practices. For their part, the Center members expressed their thanks and appreciation for the Chamber’s role in providing the support and the stimulating environment for their projects, stressing that Tijarah 101 is a distinguished business incubator that provided them with support and advice to be on the right track, as well as being a stimulating and proactive environment to meet their requirements and overcome the challenges they have faced, boosting their self-confidence to successfully practice their business. — SG