The Dubai Chamber looks into consolidating the commercial cooperation with Eritrea

Al Mutaiwee affirmed the necessity to increase the volume of trade exchanged between Dubai and Eritrea through expanding the cooperation opportunities in the exhibitions field, highlighting that DCCI is prepared to coordinate with Eritrea in order to set up commercial exhibitions in Dubai, and in turn, to participate in any exhibitions set up in Eritrea.

The total non-oil trade between Dubai and Eritrea reached $34.3 million in 2002, although H.E Saleh Nawd pointed out that the numbers are increasing constantly, as the period between 2001 and 2003 witnessed a marked increase in the ships activity, whether commercial or government between the two countries, as they reached four ships a month.

"We are looking to consolidate cooperation with Dubai in the business sector, and to increase the UAE investment opportunities in Eritrea", said the Consul General. He added, "We have recently established a trade office to help develop the commercial cooperation between our two countries". Mr. Al Mutaiwee pointed out that the Dubai Chamber is looking into organizing a UAE trade fair in one of the east African countries, highlighting that this requires establishing the extent of reception from the other side.

Mr. Nawd said that his country has successfully received exhibitions for Egypt, Syria and China, and is capable of hosting an exhibition for the United Arab Emirates. He also highlighted that the Eritrean airlines has established a direct route to Jeddah and plans to establish one soon to Dubai. The Director General of DCCI pointed out that Eritrea's geographical position enables it to become a coastal gate to central Africa.