Sharjah: As the UAE and Mexico prepare to commemorate 50 years of diplomatic relations in 2025, the Sharjah FDI Office (Invest in Sharjah) and the Mexican Business Council recently held the 'Sharjah-Mexico Business Roundtable' at the House of Wisdom. This event aimed to identify strategic growth opportunities in sectors such as SME financing, logistics, real estate, and automotive manufacturing, while also exploring the broad investment and commercial prospects that Sharjah offers to businesses in Mexico and the broader Latin American and Caribbean regions.
According to Emirates News Agency, the roundtable was attended by several key figures, including Luis Alfonso de Alba, Ambassador of Mexico to the UAE; Mohamed Al Musharrkh, CEO of Invest in Sharjah; Rafael Villalona, President of the Mexican Business Council; along with leading investors and entrepreneurs from both countries, highlighting a shared vision for partnerships driven by innovation.
A central component of the event was a panel discussion titled 'Why Sharjah? Opportunities Beyond Borders', where participants discussed Sharjah's competitive advantages, sectoral growth opportunities, and regulatory reforms. The discussion reinforced a shared commitment to innovation, sustainable growth, and cross-regional investment.
Luis Alfonso de Alba, in his keynote address, emphasized the significance of the roundtable as a prelude to the golden jubilee of bilateral relations, noting Sharjah's role in strengthening ties between Mexico and the UAE. He pointed to Sharjah's participation as the guest of honor at the 2022 Guadalajara International Book Fair as a cultural milestone and expressed optimism about expanding commercial ties.
Mohamed Al Musharrkh shared his enthusiasm, recalling his visit to Central America as part of the UAE's official delegation to Mexico in 2018-2019. He highlighted Sharjah's growing appeal to Mexican businesses, noting that the emirate hosts over 45 Mexican companies and imported goods worth 7 million dirhams from Mexico in 2024. Al Musharrkh emphasized the shared ambitions of both regions in innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration.
Rafael Villalona, marking the Council's upcoming first anniversary, discussed the growth of Mexican enterprise in the UAE, noting that bilateral trade reached $2.5 billion in 2023. He identified untapped potential in sectors like construction, automotive, and agriculture, while also highlighting Mexico's global ranking in auto parts production and agricultural leadership.
The panel discussion featured insights from various leaders, including Issa Ataya, CEO of Alef Group, who spotlighted Sharjah's thriving real estate sector. Ataya noted a significant increase in transactions and linked this growth to regulatory reforms that allow full foreign property ownership in designated areas, attracting foreign investors.
Khaleefa Al Hosani, Senior Vice President of SMEs at Emirates Development Bank, outlined financial mechanisms empowering businesses, highlighting tailored loan programs and credit guarantees for SMEs. He emphasized Sharjah's role as a launchpad for scalable ventures and the bank's commitment to fostering innovation.
Marwan Alichla, Director of Investment Promotion and Support at Invest in Sharjah, discussed the emirate's strategic advantages, connectivity to global markets, sector diversification, and business-friendly policies. He highlighted recent innovations, such as the AI-powered trade license that can be issued within minutes, as well as Sharjah's industrial and logistics hubs.
Mexican entrepreneurs shared their UAE market strategies, with Sergio De La Vega, CEO of Supercool, emphasizing innovation in energy and mobility. Tirso Fidalgo Arias, CEO of Metatron, noted Sharjah's strategic logistical importance, which significantly reduces shipping times to China. Chef Shaw Lash, co-founder of Lila Taqueria, highlighted the potential for partnerships in Mexican gastronomy and the agriculture sector.
As the roundtable concluded, participants expressed optimism about the future roadmap. By leveraging synergies in high-potential sectors and fostering private-sector dialogue, both regions aim to embark on a new chapter of transcontinental collaboration characterized by innovation, resilience, and mutual prosperity.