Dubai: Towards the end of last week, Sharjah and the Netherlands agreed to strengthen their trade ties through “positive, practical steps,” Sharjah’s foreign investment authority said on Sunday. Members of Invest in Sharjah and the Netherlands and BeNeLux Business Councils said they would pursue viable investment opportunities for Dutch businesses to either grow or enter the emirate. The Dutch trade delegation expressed a desire to increase its business presence in the emirate, which currently stands at 156 companies — 87 of which are in free zones, the statement said.