Oxford Business Group Announces Team for New Sharjah Report

Milestone project to track emirate’s growth story, challenges and opportunities

Sharjah, UAE, 9 August 2016:   The global publishing firm Oxford Business Group (OBG) has expanded its operations in the UAE with the launch of a new project in Sharjah.

Work is already under way on The Report: Sharjah 2016, OBG’s landmark publication on the emirate’s economy, which is due out later this year.

The report will explore the emirate’s plans to tap investment for targeted areas of its economy, including real estate, tourism, transport and logistics. There will also be coverage of Sharjah’s efforts to enhance its business environment. Other subjects set for analysis include the key role earmarked for Sharjah’s economic zones in further strengthening its industrial base.

OBG’s latest regional venture will be led by Nekia Lane, OBG’s Country Director in Sharjah, and Joshua Blair, who takes on the role of Editorial Manager.

Lane has a background in strategic communications, business development and international relations which has taken her around the globe. Most recently, she contributed to OBG’s projects in Malaysia and Qatar. Blair has overseen the editorial content for several of the Group’s reports, analysing the markets of Egypt, Mongolia, Turkey and Malaysia. Prior to joining OBG, he worked in New York as an advisory consultant on emerging economies to global investment banks.

OBG’s Managing Director for the Middle East Jana Treeck welcomed Lane and Blair on board, adding that “their experience and expertise covering trends in emerging markets would stand them in good stead for their new roles”.

Treeck also highlighted the key part that she expected Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) to play in OBG’s new project. The independent government entity has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with OBG that will see it contribute to research on The Report: Sharjah 2016.

“We know that Sharjah is keen to use its competitive advantages to increase its presence on the international stage,” she said. “Shurooq is actively involved in highlighting the emirate’s potential to international investors which will prove invaluable as we begin our research across all sectors of the local economy. I’m delighted that our team, ably led by Nekia and Joshua, and international readership will benefit from the authority’s input as we begin work on this landmark project.”

Marwan Al Sarkal, Shurooq’s CEO, said he looked forward to contributing to OBG’s report. “Sharjah is at an economic crossroads with its further growth dependent on the ability to maximise its reach to investors and business owners across the world,” he noted. “The provision of reliable data and analysis represents a key step along the path to generating new growth.”

OBG’s Managing Editor for the Middle East Oliver Cornock added that by broadening its economic base, Sharjah had weathered the decline in global oil prices with more ease than some other producers. “Manufacturing and trade have shown considerable resilience, which has helped Sharjah’s economy to continue performing strongly, despite the challenging external climate,” he said.

The Report: Sharjah 2016 will contain interviews with leading representatives, together with a detailed, sector-by-sector guide for investors. Marking the culmination of more than six months of field research by a team of analysts from Oxford Business Group, the publication will assess trends and developments across the economy, including macroeconomics, infrastructure, banking and other sectoral developments.