EDC launches 'UAE Exports and Industry Directory'

As the Dubai Government body responsible for developing and promoting exports from the Emirate, EDC contracted the services of United International Marketing & Consultancy to produce the first issue of the first edition of the directory. The UAE Exports and Industry Directory will cover all locally produced commodities and also list the information on approximately 9000 establishments, encompassing five business sectors - 6000 factories, 2000 transportation companies, 200 banks and insurance companies and 200 importers of industrial equipment and raw materials.

The Product Section will also be classified in accordance with the Harmonised System Code (H.S. Code), an international method of unifying the classification of goods and products for international trading purposes. Basic information on the required tariffs and customs duties in the Arab and other countries will be included in the directory. The directory will include geographical and sector classifications of all industries as well as complete details concerning products of the participating establishments in the Emirates.

"The UAE periodically reviews various means to diversify its source of national income and lessen its dependency on oil revenues. One of the means, as undertaken by Dubai, is to strengthen the export industry of the country by supporting the industrial sector in expanding their reach to new markets. The UAE Exports and Industry Directory, an important tool undertaken by EDC, will provide information about nationally manufactured products distributed both inside and outside the country,"

said Engineer Saed Al Awadi, Chief Executive Officer, EDC.

"The UAE is the first country in the GCC to develop such a directory using the H.S. Code in classifying its products, a method which is relevant to buyers and exporters. This directory will be very helpful to our local manufacturers as it also contains industrial and export regulations, as well as procedures for establishing projects and investment in the UAE," he added.

The directory is considered as an important factor in the development of the national economy of the country, hence other sectors are also included such as the banking industry, insurance industry, transporters industry and importers industry of industrial equipment and raw materials. With all these sectors incorporated, the UAE Export and Industry Directory will serve as a basic industrial and economical reference for the industrial sector.

United International Marketing & Consultancy will be in charge of conducting a comprehensive survey, to get reliable data and information from all the factories and other sectors in the country. Moreover, for the first time, the companies participating in the survey are given an opportunity to subscribe to the GPS system, which is also used to prepare the directory. Accurate information will be provided such as their address and the nearest landmarks through the satellite.

"We are working closely with EDC to accomplish the objectives of the first edition of this directory for exporters. To make this initiative a successful one, we are organising a comprehensive field survey to know the reality of the industrial sector as well as commodities produced by this sector. Through this process, we will be able to get vital information to make the directory an important resource material for the industrial sector," said Fares Saad, General Manager, United International Marketing & Consultancy.

EDC is privileged to have obtained reputed sponsors for the directory, namely Emirates-NBD, Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), Aramex, Socomet and Professional Practice Insurance Brokers. The UAE Exports and Industrial Directory, published in both English and Arabic, and in CD format, will be available on special website. The first edition of the directory will be ready in May 2009, followed by the second edition in year 2011.