GOIC allies with Dubai Export Development Corporation (EDC)

H.E. Dr. Ahmed Khalil al Mutawa, Secretary General signed on behalf of GOIC, while H.E Eng. Saed Al Awadi, Chief Executive Officer signed on behalf of EDC.

The agreement provides for that GOIC creates a special website for industrial subcontracting and partnership exchange; organizes information on companies obtained in the first phase; codes them as is the practice in UNIDO; and adds them to the database.

Within the same framework, GOIC also signed a joint memorandum of understanding with EDC to establish a framework for facilitating cooperation and coordination, and create a work-relationship between GOIC and EDC to provide continuous collaboration opportunities.

The MOU also provides for a broad framework for cooperation between the parties in advancing the profession and business; as well as other services for which cooperation may be mutually beneficial. It is also intended to facilitate the establishment of working partnerships, in order to enhance productivity and mutual benefit through collaboration on mutually-defined fields.

On a related development GOIC and EDC intend to continue conducting Dubai Industrial Investment & Partnership Forum (DIIPF), and focus on SMEs in UAE, as well as the Contracting companies whether Gulf-based or international.

The forum's agenda is one of the fruits of GOIC's Subcontracting and Partnership Exchange Program; through which GOIC organized a number of forums for the registered companies in the program, which are 900 ones, amongst them is 500 UAE companies. The contracting companies constitute 10% of the total number of registered companies, while the subcontracting companies constitute 90%.

Within the same context, Dubai Industrial Investment & Partnership Forum (DIIPF) was launched last February under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance and Industry in the United Arab Emirates.

The forum aimed at promoting industrial development process by means of utilizing the productive capacities of the industrial companies in GCC member states. It also aimed at raising their efficiency and competitiveness level in view of the new global economic system and the need for providing high quality products.

The number of small and medium factories in the United Arab Emirates has achieved an average growth of 11% in the period 2000 - 2007, when it reached 3828 factories in 2007, compared to 2282 factories in 2002.

These factories are concentrated in the sector of chemical and plastic products; where the number of small and medium factories in this sector reached about 872 factories in 2007. This sector has achieved an average growth rate of 12% during the period 2000 - 2007.