Dubai Exports assembles strong show of local construction industry in BakuBuild

Dubai Exports, the export promotion agency of the Department of Economic Development (DED) in Dubai, has taken 27 local exporters to Azerbaijan to participate in BakuBuild, billed as the largest exhibition for construction and related sectors anywhere in the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) and Eastern Europe.

For the first time Dubai Exports is leading the UAE pavilion at the event being held in Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan from 23 to 26 October 2013.

Dubai Exports is participating in the annual exhibition as part of its strategy to assist local manufacturers and exporters to penetrate new and emerging markets in Central Asia. Over 47 companies including Emirates Steel, National Paints, Dubai Investments, Danube Building Materials and others from the construction and related sectors are part of the UAE pavilion.

Workshops are also being organised by Dubai Exports along the sidelines of the exhibition to familiarise UAE companies with government officials in Azerbaijan. One-on-one meetings between company representatives from both sides and visits to prominent projects and institutions in Baku are also part of the itinerary.

Commented Engineer Saed Al Awadi, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Exports: “Azerbaijan has maintained its strategic position in CIS as the leading hub of construction activity. During 2003-2013 Azerbaijan’s foreign trade has shown consistent growth together with increased production. Oil revenues in the country crossed the one-billion-dollar mark way back in 2006.”

Al Awadi said that continuous investment has bolstered industrial production in Azerbaijan, further unlocking public and private capital into varied manufacturing sectors. Official reports from Azerbaijan indicate that imports to the country in the first quarter of 2012 alone was worth US$9.6 billion, which makes it an attractive export destination, especially for neighbouring source markets like UAE and Dubai.

“BakuBuild is a good opportunity to for exporters to leverage opportunities in Azerbaijan and Central Asia especially since the event attracts over 10,000 visitors. Nearly 26 countries are participating in the exhibition and in 2012 nearly 86 per cent of the 330 companies that attended the event were able to attract enquiries on their products,” stated Al Awadi.

Al Awadi added that Azerbaijan’s economic success and rising demand has also created more opportunities for long-term bilateral partnerships between the country and the UAE, especially in view of the strategic advantages of Dubai as a hub of exports and re-exports.