Ministry of Economy organizes awareness workshop on combatting commercial fraud & counterfeiting

Workshop held in collaboration with Sharjah Chamber was attended by representatives of economic departments, municipalities, chambers of commerce, customs and the private sector

The Ministry of Economy’s Commercial Control Department, in collaboration with the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, organized an awareness workshop on the methods of dealing with and combating commercial fraud and counterfeiting. The workshop was held in the presence of Sultan Ahmed Darwish, Director of the Commercial Control Department, MOE; Ibrahim Rashid Al Jarwan, Director of Economic Relations, Sharjah Chamber; and Jamal Saeed Buzangal, Director of the Media Department, Sharjah Chamber; as well as representatives from economic departments, municipalities, chambers of commerce, customs authorities, and the private sector.

In his speech on behalf of H.E Abdullah Sultan Al Fann Al Shamsi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Monitoring & Following Up Sector at the Ministry of Economy, Sultan Ahmed Darwish said: “The UAE has an advanced institutional system that enables sound commercial practices and combats all types of commercial fraud, thus enhancing the national economy’s leading position globally and making it a sustainable destination for major global companies and brands, while also supporting the country’s new knowledge and innovation-based economic model.”

He added: “The Ministry of Economy continues to ensure a safe consumer environment by enhancing the monitoring of all goods and commodities in the UAE markets by making sure that they meet the highest local and international standards of quality. We achieve this through the integration of efforts by relevant teams from various local and federal entities who conduct periodic inspections. Through these efforts, we ensure that consumers are provided sufficient protection from harmful commercial practices that may affect their overall shopping experiences and prevent them from enjoying the benefits offered by the country’s markets.”

During the workshop, Darwish highlighted the Ministry of Economy’s vision and its monitoring efforts over the last period, as well as the UAE’s comprehensive and integrated federal system that boasts a number of strict legislations, including laws for combating commercial fraud, consumer protection, trademarks, copyright and related rights, and commercial agencies. He also showcased the UAE’s successful partnerships with specialized international organizations and foreign governments, which led to the UAE’s number one ranking among Arab countries in combating illegal trade. Besides, he elaborated on commercial fraud and counterfeiting as well, and demonstrated their harmful impact on society and the national economy, emphasizing the importance of the partnership between the government and private sectors in combatting such harmful practices.

In addition, Darwish pointed out that the Ministry of Economy carried out 49,310 inspections in the country’s markets in 2021, in collaboration with its partners in the local economic departments, customs authorities, and the municipalities, which found 4,570 violations.

Moreover, Darwish stated that the Ministry of Economy has a comprehensive monitoring plan in collaboration with the departments of economic development, relevant municipalities, customs authorities and departments, federal departments of taxes, and other relevant federal and local government entities. The aim is to enforce relevant laws and tighten market control in this regard, in addition to spreading awareness among consumers and promoting a culture of self-monitoring among individuals and institutions, through organizing several awareness workshops.

In addition, Rashid Al Jarwan, Director of Economic Relations, Sharjah Chamber, emphasized the importance of collaborating with the Ministry of Economy in organizing this workshop, as it is in line with the Sharjah Chamber’s commitment to supporting commercial fraud combating efforts. It also aligns with its belief in the importance of spreading awareness on all areas of protecting consumer rights in the UAE markets and monitoring them, in addition to introducing the laws and integrated legislative system established by the UAE to combat commercial fraud. Adding to this is the importance of raising awareness on the harmful impacts of fraud, ways to combat it, and differentiating between original and counterfeit products. Al Jarwan also highlighted the importance of awareness raising in combating this negative trend, as it causes significant harm to many economic fields leading to damage and loss. He also reaffirmed the importance of collaborating with the private sector in order to utilize every available tool to combat this menace and put an end to it.

The workshop further highlighted the significance of enabling proper commercial practices, raising awareness on commercial fraud and ways to combat it. It also emphasized the important role of the private sector in supporting the UAE’s efforts in combating harmful commercial practices, enhancing fair competition among companies, and maintaining the standards and quality of products offered to consumers. Meanwhile, private sector representatives from Unilever Gulf, Louis Vuitton, and Ferrero showcased ways to differentiate between original and counterfeit products and presented practical examples for comparison.