Local exporters receive support from UAE Government through 'The First Exporters Forum'

Entitled "Together to Support UAE Exports", the forum convened heads of different government departments led by H.E. Eng. Mohammed Ahmed Bin Abdul Aziz Al Shihhi, Director General of the Ministry of Economy; H.E. Abdullah Ahmed Al Saleh, Director General of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade; and H.E. Sami Al Qamzi, Director General of Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED) among others. More than 250 UAE-based firms attended the event including a number of representatives of Federal and local government bodies responsible for trade & economic development

"The Ministry of Economy gives great importance to the manufacturing and exporting sector, which we consider as the backbone of the national economy. The ministry supports all initiatives and services to encourage manufacturers and exporters to compete globally by expanding their business and enter new markets outside the UAE,"

said H.E. Al Shihhi.

"Additionally, the MoE is creating legislations and laws as well signing international agreements to liberate the foreign trade and assist local products to enter international markets.

"The economy diversification is a national objective and we are working to unify all efforts to achieve this goal. Under the vision of the UAE rulers, we are strengthening our industrial and export sector to attain a robust economy in the future," he added.

Al Shihhi also applauded EDC by organising an event which supported the local industry and in turn facilitated the development of a more self-sustaining economy.

Meanwhile, Eng. Saed Al Awadi, Chief Executive Officer, EDC explained that the organisation is exploring different ways to promote the emirate's exports both in the goods and service sectors. The forum allowed exporters to learn from various government departments and agencies involved in the export cycle.

During the first session, the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Foreign Trade talked about the importance of the certificates of origin and its importance to exporters along with the free trade agreements and opportunities for exporters respectively. Dubai Trade headed by its Director, Eng. Mahmood Al Bastaki, has presented the agency's role in the paperless export process by using e-Tokens.

The e-Token service, designed to facilitate seamless movements of container vans from and to the port, gives exporters an efficient schedule from DP World for better container pickup and delivery. Al Bastaki also highlighted the department's annual report, "Doing Business Report 2010", which covered 183 economies around the world including studies related to doing business and trading across borders.

Meanwhile, the Dubai Municipality represented by Khalid Mohammed Sharif Al Awadi, Director of Food Control Department discussed the provision of electronic services to facilitate the special procedure for the import and export of food from the country. Additionally, EDC has presented the First 'UAE Exports and Industry Directory' as a value added source of information for exporters and buyers.

The second session highlighted the facilities and infrastructures in the export sector. Among the presenters was Nassim Saeed Al Muhairi, Senior Manager, Dubai Trade Statistics Department-Dubai World, who highlighted that Dubai's export turnover reached $11bn in 2008 with more than 6000 companies exporting from the Emirate. According to the presentation, Dubai has experienced 45% growth rate in export over the last five years with 71% of UAE net non-oil exports coming from Dubai.

"Since the start of the 21st century, export trade in Dubai has registered an average growth of 27% posting record heights in the last five years. Dubai exports are expected to surge by 12% by the end of 2009," Al Muhairi said.

Among the key growth factors in export trade included world class facilities in ports, cutting edge technology and infrastructures, seamless government regulations for promoting industrial investments, favourable economic social factors, conducive business environment through business-friendly policies that foster growth in manufacturing sector which has reached 14.6% of Dubai's GDP. Also discussed in the second part were the exemptions and customs procedures for exporters from Dubai Customs while Dubai Airport Free Zone (DAFZA) introduced its excellent services to exporters as well as the advantages of setting up in the free zone.

Furthermore, ECIE talked about the Export Credit Insurance and its benefits to the exporters. Intertek explained the product conformity programme, its advantages, and the steps to product certification including difference between product and process certifications. The forum has provided networking opportunity as well as discussion on exporting issues through informative panel discussions and meetings with the government departments.

The First Exporters forum has posted an important milestone in the UAE's ambitious strides to diversify its economy and has highlighted the role of EDC's in promoting the emirate's exports both in the goods and service sectors. The Forum has demonstrated the support EDC and all government trade and economic development bodies give to exporters and manufacturers in achieving their objectives to boost trade. The forum hopes to pave the way for a stronger collaboration between the government and the business community to make the export sector one of the important pillars of the UAE economy in the coming years.