Dubai Export Development Corporation and Austrade sign Tradelink Partnership

The Partnership covers several areas of focus that define areas of cooperation including trade development, country-specific projects, export opportunities, exhibition participation and training activities.

EDC and Austrade will work to share information relating to major export opportunities as well as encouraging members of both organisations to participate in relevant trade shows and exhibitions.

"Through this partnership, the Dubai Export Development Corporation and the Australian Trade Commission are acknowledging the vast potential for collaboration across a number of areas. The Australian and Dubai economies enjoy complementary characteristics and this agreement specifically defines areas where both organisations can continue to focus efforts to increase cooperation and subsequent opportunities,"

said Engineer Saed Al Awadi, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Export Development Corporation.

Dubai's 2007 exports to Australia amounted to Dhs206.04m, a 34.34% increase from 2006. According to EDC, exports of stone, cement, ceramic and glass products to Australia reached Dhs74.51m in 2007 compared to Dhs55.48m in 2006, while textile products have a significant increase of Dhs32.91m in 2007 against Dhs16.33m in 2006.

"Australia and the United Arab Emirates, Dubai in particular, have a history of trade and cooperation and there are currently significant opportunities for both countries in regards to cooperative export. This Tradelink Partnership will help to identify and implement projects that will prove beneficial to companies of both parties," said Ian Wing, the Australian Trade Commission's Regional Director of Europe, Middle East and Africa.

EDC and Austrade have a history of successful collaboration having co-hosted several seminars recently. EDC also recently hosted a selection of Dubai based food exporters at the 'Made in Dubai' stand at the Fine Food Australia exhibition held in Melbourne, Australia.

The increased cooperation of the two organisations supports EDC's current campaign to 'Made in Dubai' as a stamp of quality recognised across the world. EDC's Exporter Facilitation Model works with Dubai based exporters in the three main areas of Export Preparation, Facilitation and International Assistance.