Sharjah Economic Excellence Award kicks Off With New Look

Cooperative agreement with the European Foundation for Quality Management "EFQM" to develop assessment standards, promote competitiveness & organizational excellence across local business community

H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, emphasizes that Excellence is one of the most important pillars of continual development which fits into Sharjah’s development and cultural programs and considers the business community as pivotal partner of its success. Therefore, organizations operating in Sharjah should put no limit and spare no effort for the attainment of quality and business excellence and commitment to continuous improvement, productivity and best practices, to use all initiatives as a strategic choice to move forward towards sustainable excellence.

This complements the launch of the 10th cycle of the Sharjah Economic Excellence Award (SEEA) organized by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) & sponsored by the Emirates Company for Industrial Cities. A press conference that was held today (Wednesday, March 14, 2012) under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah at the SCCI headquarters to announce the launch of SEEA.

This year’s event is distinct from previous cycles as it sports a new look adhering to global standards, in a move to further enhance performance across the private sector and keep pace with international developments. Among those present were H.E. Hussein Mohammed Al Mahmoudi, Director General, SCCI; Mohammed Ahmed Amin, Assistant Director General of Economic and International Affairs, SCCI; Nada Al Hajri, SEEA General Coordinator; Dr. Lway Nackasha, SEEA Consultant; Salah Taher Al Haj, Head, SEEA Development Team; Mohammed Naser Al Hazza, Director General of Emirates Company for Industrial Cities; and a number of SEEA team members. This year’s participants and last year’s winners also attended.

The 10th SEEA cycle is of great importance as it is based on new international standards under the cooperative agreement signed with the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM), a global not-for-profit membership foundation based in Brussels, Belgium. EFQM has more than 500 members across over 55 countries, providing a unique platform for organizations to improve performance.

Ahmed Mohammed Al Midfa, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, SEEA, in this occasion highlighted the importance of developing the Sharjah Economic Excellence Award according to the highest international standards. He expressed confidence in establishing the awards event as an incentive for promoting a culture of excellence and total quality management within the business community of Sharjah. He added that SEEA would improve the economic performance of firms and thus support the goals and aspirations of local and federal government towards promoting the UAE as a major investment destination and growth driver for the region. Al Midfa added, “We will continue to work with the SCCI to develop similar initiatives to create a competitive environment that enhances productivity, creativity and innovation in line with the directives of the Government of Sharjah in disseminating the best practices of total quality management and excellence.”

Hussein Al Mahmoudi emphasized the importance of cooperating with EFQM to develop and upgrade the SEEA model – acknowledged and referred to as the “Excellence Model” – in accordance with global standards. He explained that this would boost progress and development as well as support local companies across the private sector in raising the bar of quality and achieving organizational excellence. Al Mahmoudi added that this step complements SCCI’s strategy of creating an appropriate investment environment and enabling private companies to adopt the best and most comprehensive quality management and performance practices in line with the objectives of sustainable development.

Dr. Lway Nackasha, on the other hand, revealed that the Award recognition levels have been updated to include the Gold, Silver and Bronze that now apply to all three categories of the Award – Large Companies, Small & Medium Companies, and Entrepreneurship. The Entrepreneurship will not be based on the Excellence Model but have instead been amended according to internationals standards. Nackasha said, “As part of our commitment to develop successful investment drivers within Sharjah’s business community, we have organized this year’s SEEA in a manner that complies with the best international standards under an ambitious local vision of fostering economic concepts and providing promising opportunities for the emirate.”

The Sharjah Economic Excellence Award is one of SCCI’s leading initiatives. It aims to improve economic conditions and help Chamber members reinforce their presence within the business community as well as achieve organizational excellence through the adoption of the highest standards of quality and best practices. Recognizing the community’s efforts and achievements to promote comprehensive development across the Emirate, SEEA has managed in the past few years to establish itself as a reliable indicator of the progress attained by local companies and the prospects for the future.

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