Sharjah's environment sector set to grow by 15 percent

Sharjah (WAM): Sharjah's environment sector is expected to grow by 15 percent to almost Dh1 billion by 2016, up from this year’s Dh780 million, powered by a portfolio of ground-breaking eco-tourism projects currently under way. According to a study by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority, Shurooq, the environment sector is one of the emirate’s four key sectors identified as major areas of potential growth. The three other sectors are travel and tourism, healthcare, and transport and logistics. Highlighting the sector’s promising future, Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO of Shurooq, said, "Although the environment sector is now worth Dh780 million, the Sharjah government is keen to expand further in this field, through attracting foreign direct investment into solar energy generation plants and water desalination projects." Al Sarkal indicated that the environment sector is set to grow by 15 percent, up to almost Dh1billion by 2016, as he outlined the immense potential that the Emirate of Sharjah has in the eco-tourism industry, especially with the diverse range of eco-friendly projects currently undertaken by Shurooq to leverage this potential. "The environment sector is composed of three sub-sectors, namely renewable energy, waste management, and energy efficiency. The U.A.E. has one of the highest per capita waste levels in the world, with environmental challenges very much on the federal government’s agenda, and Sharjah has carved out its niche as the U.A.E.’s pioneer for renewable energy alternatives," the Shurooq CEO clarified. "With the U.A.E. leading the renewable energy charge in the Gulf region, the U.A.E. market potential is expected to reach Dh183 billion by 2020, with annual growth of 15 percent during the period from 2012-2020," Al Sarkal said. With regards to energy efficiency, the U.A.E. is adopting an ambitious renewable energy plan as it aims to boost investment in clean energy technology over the next few years and expects to attract Dh367 billion of investments in alternative and sustainable energy projects by 2020, including renewable energies, biofuel, urban development projects and wastewater recycling, the Shurooq CEO outlined. He said that solar power technologies have the highest potential for the U.A.E. and Sharjah, which is a good renewable energy components manufacturing platform for the MENA region, due to its strategic location, logistics infrastructure, cheap labour costs, and developed manufacturing base with ready availability of various components. "We abide by eco-friendly standards in our tourist and leisure projects, and we have also initiated a host of eco-tourism projects and green initiatives in line with the emirate’s eco-friendly approach aimed at preserving the environment and ensuring a better life for generations to come," Al Sarkal said. Among these projects are the Kalba Eco-tourism project, the Sir Bu Nuair Island project, Al Jabal Resort, The Chedi Khorfakkan, Al Majaz Waterfront, and the newly opened Al Montazah Amusement and Water Park. "Shurooq aims through the development of the Kalba eco-tourism initiative, which is being implemented in collaboration with the Environment and Protected Areas Authority, EPAA, in Sharjah, to curb the environmental degradation that accompanies the destruction caused by killing animal and plant life, and to preserve biodiversity, re-habitat some endangered species, as well as the development of the eco-tourism sector," Al Sarkal added. Speaking on this unique project, Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the Sharjah EPAA, said, "The project is the largest of its kind in the development of eco-tourism facilities in the U.A.E. and the region. It boasts of natural reserves rich in their bio-diversity, natural resources and topographical characteristics that will help rehabilitate and re-introduce rare and endangered animals." Khalid Al Huraimel, CEO of Bee'ah said, "Being at the forefront of positive environmental change, we launched a number of programmes to educate the public about sustainable waste management. This approach stems from our responsibility to work with the community and educate our society in the simple ways they can adapt and thereby contribute to turning waste into recycled resources, which can later be re-used by both the community and economy. "Our aim is to lead the development of sustainable and economically viable solutions for waste management. We are working to tackle waste in the region and invest heavily in advanced waste management infrastructure and state-of-the-art technologies, to reach our ultimate goal of leading the Emirate of Sharjah to become the first city in the Middle East to achieve Zero-Waste-To-Landfill by 2015," he said. "By 2015 everything in Sharjah is going to be recycled, and that will make it the first Arab nation that recycles everything. This is a huge area that is going to be developed through a range of single-minded initiatives, so as to attract more companies that would like to work with us, Al Huraimel emphasised. – Emirates News Agency, WAM – http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395271192629.html