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SHARJAH, 1st September, 2021 – The Expo Centre Sharjah is gearing up to welcome another season of exhibitions and events, with about 12 diverse fairs taking place until the end of this year, the first of which will take place on September first. This is a continuation of the activities of the Centre, which witnessed various events during the past seven months.
“Since the beginning of this year, we have organised and hosted over 10 diverse and successful events, with a higher-than-anticipated participation rate either for exhibiting companies or visitors,” said Saif Mohamed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah, adding that this clearly reflects the leading position the Centre enjoys as a prominent destination for exhibitions and events organisation.
This also reflects the success of the Centre’s tireless efforts to promote the exhibitions industry and tourism in the UAE and Sharjah in particular, he added.
Speaking on the Centre’s success in organising exhibitions during the pandemic, Al Midfa noted that despite the challenges posed by the virus spread, the Emirate of Sharjah took the lead globally in the return of this industry via the Expo Centre Sharjah while adopting the strictest precautionary measures, in accordance with the directives of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.
“Our events calendar for this year has taken into consideration the implementation of the emirate’s vision in terms of economic diversification, by developing the exhibitions industry and enhancing its competitiveness, so as to maintain the emirate’s position as a regional leader of this industry.
“Our plans and programmes also didn’t overlook the important economic sectors in the emirate, in addition to activating the contribution of these sectors to the emirate’s GDP,” Al Midfa noted.
Concerning the preparations for the Expo 2020 Dubai, the CEO of the Expo Centre Sharjah underscored that winning the right to organise and host Expo 2020 in Dubai is yet another testament to the ability and excellence of the state’s exhibitions and conferences sector to organise such major events, which requires all of us to get ready for it.
“Immediately after the decision of Dubai’s Expo 2020 win, we have adopted long-term investment plans at all the facilities of the centre, under the guidance of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), in order to ensure the application of resilience in the centre’s operations and to keep pace with the requirements of exhibitors and partners,” Al Midfa added.
Al Midfa continued to say, “Besides providing the latest equipment, we have developed the centre’s infrastructure and logistical services to raise the bar of its services, both in terms of upgrading facilities or improving the level and quality of the events organised.”
The exhibition spaces have also been increased, plus providing all the technical and advanced requirements to improve its performance, which enhanced the centre’s position in serving those participating in various events.
From 23rd – 25th September, the Centre is set to host the 8th edition of the Real Estate Investment Exhibition (ACRES 2021), which is organised by the SCCI and Real Estate Registration Department, with the participation of a large number of real estate developers, contracting and building materials companies, and real estate brokers.
In October, the Centre will host 48th edition of Watch & Jewelry Middle East Show (WJMES).
In the same month, the Centre will be organising the 23rd edition of the “National Career Exhibition”, the first of its kind across the country. In the meantime, the center will be hosting the 17th International Education Show, which is considered one of the most prominent academic events grabbing the attention of thousands of students every year.
Next November, the Centre will be hosting the “Sharjah International Book Fair”, the largest of its kind in the region. The Fair is packed with thousands of cultural events and enormous activities for all family members.
Further to that, the Centre will be organizing six events specializing in fashion, electronics, and furniture, which are intended to back the retail sector and boost its sales.

MOSCOW, 1st September, 2021 – Dr. Mohammed Ahmed bin Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Ambassador to Russia, has met in the capital, Moscow, with Mikhail Bogdanov, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa.
The meeting, which took place at the headquarters of the Russian Foreign Ministry, dealt with the distinguished bilateral relations between the two friendly countries and ways to develop cooperation between the UAE and the Russian Federation in all fields.
The Ambassador also met with Anna Popova, Head of the Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare.
During the meeting, they discussed bilateral cooperation as part of the framework of international efforts aimed at combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

DUBAI, 1st September, 2021 – DMCC, a Free Zone and Government of Dubai Authority on commodities trade and enterprise, today announced it recorded its best August on record since its establishment in 2002, with 204 new member companies registered, and best eight-month performance in seven years.
This builds on the business district’s record-breaking success in recent months, with a strong performance in the first half of the year, during which it welcomed 1,230 companies, the best 6-month performance since 2013.
DMCC has witnessed persistent growth over the years, supported by strategic partnerships that enhance the ease of doing business, roadshows that attract trade flows to Dubai and new launches, including its latest DMCC Crypto Centre – a comprehensive ecosystem for businesses operating in the cryptographic and blockchain sectors.
Ahmed bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DMCC, said, “DMCC continues to edge closer to the target we set ourselves – to reach 20,000 members by the end of 2021. The record-breaking level of business activity, even during the quieter summer months, reflects the continued appeal of our business district to companies of all sizes and origins. As Dubai prepares to welcome the world to Expo 2020 Dubai in a few weeks, we see a wealth of opportunities on the horizon. Building on this momentum, we are looking forward to the next few months which will undoubtedly be marked by many more milestones and achievements.”
Ahmad Hamza, Executive Director – Free Zone, added, “I am incredibly proud of the DMCC’s record-breaking performance. The ecosystem we offer, our fully digitalised set-up process, along the innovative solutions, products and services we bring mean we remain the business community’s partner of choice. Our network is unmatched and with that comes unique connectivity – these are pre-requisites for any company seeking growth.”

ABU DHABI, 1st September, 2021 – A 1.6-magnitude earthquake was recorded in Dibba Al Fujairah at 2:47 am today, Wednesday, UAE local time, according to the National Seismic Network of the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM).

VIENNA, 1st September, 2021 – The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at US$71.43 a barrel on Tuesday, 31st August, compared with US$71.88 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.
The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

WARSAW, Poland, 1st September, 2021 – Iman Ahmed Al Salami has presented her credentials as UAE Ambassador to Poland to Marek Szczepanowski, Director of Diplomatic Protocol at the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the meeting held at the ministry’s headquarters in Warsaw, Szczepanowski wished the ambassador a successful tenure to further consolidate the privileged relations between the two nations across various fields, stressing his government’s interest in providing all that is required to facilitate her duties.
Ambassador Al Salami expressed her pride in representing the UAE in Poland and her keenness to boost bilateral relations, thus contributing to strengthening the bonds of friendship between the two countries.
The meeting also addressed relations between the two countries and means to further develop them in various fronts.

ABU DHABI, 1st September, 2021 – The UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF), the governing body for the sport in the emirates unveiled the 5th edition of Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship, taking place at the Jiu-Jitsu Arena from 13th to 16th September in Abu Dhabi.
Open for both male and female athletes in the adult category, the championship will be organised by UAEJJF. The championship is the first Asian tournament to be organised post pandemic, as the last edition took place in Mongolia in 2019.
Featuring a host of athletes from around the world, the championship convenes several jiu-jitsu stars who are eager to showcase their jiu-jitsu skills and competencies.
Abdul Moneim Al Hashemi, Chairman of the UAE and Asian Jiu-Jitsu Federations and Senior Vice President of the Jiu-Jitsu International Federation, said, “Abu Dhabi is hosting one of the largest tournaments on the Asian agenda confirms the emirate’s capability in organising large-scale events of world-class stature.”
“The confidence from the Asian Jiu-Jitsu Federations and other global organisations is a testament of our capabilities and capacity in hosting international events.”
Furthermore, the 5th edition of the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship is the first big event on the 2021 annual tournaments calendar, all taking place in the capital in the next few months such as the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship scheduled from 28th October to 7th November and the 13th edition of Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship happening from 14th – 19th November 2021.
Commenting on the UAE national team’s participation at Championship, Al Hashemi said, ” The common goal of UAE jiu-jitsu athletes is to raise the UAE flag and achieve the highest number of medals. We have full confidence in our team, a distinguished group who are ready to compete at the highest level and have shined in several events.”
The 5th edition of Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship is of special importance for the participating athletes, as it contributes to enhance their skills and techniques as well as preparing the UAE national team for upcoming competitions, including the World Championship, Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, the Asian Beach Games and Asia Pacific Masters Games in China next year.
The Championship will be held amid strict precautionary and preventive measures, in accordance with the health protocol approved by UAEJJF and concerned local health authorities.

ISLAMABAD, 1st September, 2021 – Pakistan on Wednesday reported 3,559 more people testing positive for the coronavirus and 4,140 people recovering from the disease during the last 24 hours.
The latest update issued by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) noted that 101 patients have died during past 24 hours, taking the toll to 25,889.

When he received on Tuesday, August 31, a letter from the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission pronouncing Anambra a petroleum-bearing state with all the benefits like entitlement to the 13% derivation principle in the sharing of national revenue, Governor Willie Obiano read the letter twice. Convinced it is real, he passed it to three aides around him and recited a scriptural passage which reads:

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who loved his appearing” (2 Timothy 4: 5-8).

 

He quickly explained: “This fight has not been a one-man show, but the collective effort of Anambra people, especially those in my administration who have defied all the odds to fight for their beloved state. For instance, the chairman of the Anambra State Oil and Gas Committee, Engineer Frank Edozie, and chairman of the our Technical Committee, Professor Chares Ofoegbu, as well as Professor Solo Chukwubelu who is the Secretary to the State Government and such persons as Arinze Awogu, chairman of the Ogbaru Local Government Transition Committee and Mrs Patricia Igwebuike, the Special Adviser on Legal Matters and Petroleum Resources, have not for once rested on their laurels.”

 

The struggle took years and grit to prosecute. Lives were even sacrificed. Immediately Orient Petroleum Company, a private company supported since 2001 by the Anambra State government, began to produce crude oil in the Aguleri area of the state, neighbouring Kogi State began to lay claim to the ownership of the hydrocarbon. People in Ibaji, Kogi State, and Aguleri Otu in Anambra East Local Government Area fought, lives were lost and properties lost. This was in the first part of 2013, a year before Obiano became Anambra governor.

 

The next year, Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company, an Indian hydrocarbon firm, secretly moved to the neighbouring communities of Ogwuaniocha and Ogwuikpele in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, and started to produce oil. The Anambra State government was not aware of this enterprise until 2019 and quickly moved into action when it received a report about the oil drilling, investigated it and found it true.

 

For some reason, the oil produced in Ogbaru LGA was attributed to Delta State, and not Anambra State. Worse, there was no environmental and social impact assessment by either the Anambra State government or the Federal Government, resulting in enormous environmental degradation. Efforts by the state government to engage Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company (SEEPCO) did not yield tangible results.

 

Obiano was left with no choice than to escalate the matter to the Directorate of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Federal Ministry of Justice. He then turned attention to the Federal Ministry of the Environment, with which it last November organized a conference at Golden Tulip Hotel, Agulu Lake in Anambra State, on the profound environmental implications of SEEPCO activities. All stakeholders criticized the energy firm.

 

With incontrovertible evidence showing that the oil wells in question belong to Anambra State, coupled with Obiano’s persistent letters and visits to relevant government agencies in Abuja, the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Allocation Commission had no choice than to write a letter to Governor Obiano on August 24 confirming that the governor is right about the ownership of the oil wells.

 

The oil wells are Nzam -1, Alo-1, Ogbu-1, Ameshi 1, 2, 3 and 4, as well as Enyie 1, 2, 3 and 4. In addition, there are River 1, 2 and 3 oil wells with proceeds to be shared equally between Anambra and Kogi states until the boundary dispute between the two states is resolved. The 50: 50 sharing ratio may not go down with some people in Anambra State because, apart from the fact that much of the oil in these parts comes from Anambra, it is the state that developed the three oil wells in the first place.

 

What may be the outcome, it has been a glorious fight. The struggle to get Anambra officially and formally designated oil-producing has ended in praise.

 

Things are shaping up for Anambra State. From building one of Africa’s most modern and largest international airports to building Africa’s largest international conference to exploits in education, security, health, agriculture and now oil and gas, it has been good news all the way. Truly, the state is up to its reputation as the Light of the Nation. God bless Anambra State.

 

Adinuba is Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Anambra State.