Waffer discount Programme has progressed implementing its strategic plan by concluding memorandums of understanding and provision contracts with service companies from the private sector. Consequently, the Programme welcomed on board two main private sector companies, namely Emirates, a leading national airline, and Toyota, one of the biggest automobile companies in the world represented by its exclusive distributor in the UAE Al-Futtaim Motors. A memorandum of understanding was signed by Dr. Tareq bin Sultan bin Khadim, Chairman of the Directorate of Human Resources in Sharjah, and Khalid Al Serkal, District Manager at Emirates Airline for Sharjah and Northern Emirates. Under the memorandum, 25,000 employees holding labour cards across 65 Sharjah government departments will avail of special discounts for them and their families on air tickets for Emirates flights from the UAE to worldwide destinations. Bin Khadim said that the Directorate seeks to offer incentives and special services to government employees in line with its strategic plan to ensure their happiness, motivate and encourage them, raise their productivity and create a motivating work environment. He talked about the great achievements of Waffer discount programme in the past three years since its inception thanks to its clear strategy. Gawaher Saif Al Oud, Director of Events and Community Activities at the Directorate and Head of Waffer Programme, said she was pleased that over 260 firms joined the programme in the past three years with 80 newcomers each year. The companies and institutions on board cover more than 20 fields of services and goods and extend exclusive discounts to Sharjah government employees. Al Ode added that the Programme seeks to offer special and exclusive services to Sharjah government employees in line with its strategy towards achieving employee happiness, motivation and encouragement. The agreement concluded today with Emirates represents a turnaround for the Programme as Emirates is one of the leading airlines in the world. She explained that quarterly meetings will be held to review the outcomes of the agreement towards achieving the best results. On his part, Khaled Al Serkal said, “Emirates Airline seeks to provide special services and exclusive discounts to Sharjah government employees to boost the economy and air transport.” In the same context, the programme has proceeded to implement the memorandum of understanding concluded with Toyota. Under the memorandum, exclusive discounts will be availed on a sector as vital as the automotive industry to Sharjah government employees, regardless of their job positions, in line with the Directorate’s strategy. The discounts include auto financing, sales and aftersales services. The agreement was signed by Dr. Tareq bin Khadim, Chairman of the Directorate of Human Resources in Sharjah, Roberto Lopes Da Silva, General Manager for Toyota Retail at Al-Futtaim Motors, and Yousef Al Raisi, Acting Director of the Government Communication Department. Dr. Tareq bin Khadim highlighted the importance of such an agreement that targets a sector as vital to the government employees as the automotive sector represented by Toyota Al-Futtaim Motors, as it ensures the wellbeing of employees thanks to the discounts offered through Waffer that contribute to their financial and moral stability and help them to assume their responsibilities. He added, “The agreement concluded with Al-Futtaim Motors, the authorised agent of Toyota which is considered one of the leading automotive manufacturers in the world, represents a turnaround in the provision of special exclusive deals to Sharjah government employees including car financing, sales, aftersales and maintenance services. As Al-Futtaim Motors joined the Programme, it contributed to boosting the economic development given the position of this company in the automotive sector in the UAE”. On his part, Roberto Lopes Da Silva said: “At Al-Futtaim Motors, we believe that rewarding our customers with special privileges is an integral part of our journey. The government of Sharjah is of great importance to Al-Futtaim Motors, and through the Affinity programme, we are able to extend special privileges from Toyota to all Sharjah government employees, offering them a host of customised benefits, from amazing discounts to special prices on aftersales packages.” He added: “Our goal in welcoming new Toyota owners to Al-Futtaim family is to get them to experience the quality, durability and reliability of Toyota vehicles, while bringing them the best sales and aftersales deals on the market backed by Al-Futtaim Motors’ legacy and more than sixty years of expertise. We are certain the Affinity programme will prove to be extremely popular among Sharjah government employees, and to promote the partnership relationship between Al-Futtaim Motors and the Government of Sharjah.