Dubai Exports shortlisted for prestigious WTO award

Dubai Exports, the export promotion agency of the Department of Economic Development, Government of Dubai, has been shortlisted for the prestigious International Trade Centre (ITC) Trade Promotion Organisations (TPO) Network Awards of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for the second consecutive time. 

The listing marks a major win for Dubai Exports and another international recognition for Dubai’s efforts to empower businesses to grow globally. Dubai Exports is the only trade promotion agency to be shortlisted in 2010 and 2012 for the award, given every two years. 

“Dubai’s efforts to energise economic activity and bring international focus on its strengths as a business hub have produced exceptional results in recent times. It is highly encouraging that businesses and trade bodies worldwide are taking a serious note of our achievements,” commented His Excellency Sami Al Qamzi, Director General of DED. 

Engineer Saad Al Awadi, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Exports, said: “Dubai Exports being shortlisted for this prestigious award is an acknowledgement of the support and we provide to exporters here through innovative solutions that meet their individual needs. Our expanding network of trade promotion agencies and service providers enables companies in Dubai to be part of a number of missions and penetrate foreign markets.” 

Between 2008 and 2011, Dubai Exports facilitated AED20 billion worth of exports through Dubai and took more than 600 local companies overseas as members in various trade missions and exhibitions. Dubai Exports’ focus on 10 strategic markets – Qatar, Saudi Arabia, India, Indonesia, Brazil, Germany, France, Spain, Australia and North Africa – has resulted in exports to these markets increasing by three percent to 100 per cent over 2008-2011. 

Al Awadi added that the year 2012 has all the ingredients of being yet another successful year for Dubai’s exporters and re-exporters. 

“Dubai’s foreign direct trade performance has been very impressive, especially in recent years.  Direct exports and re-exports through Dubai increased from AED212 billion in 2010 to AED259 billion in 2011, a 22 per cent growth. It is also worth mentioning that direct exports, which provide a measure of Dubai’s capability to add value, achieved a spectacular 44 per cent growth in 2011, from 2010.” 

With Dubai Exports promoting collaboration between the government and private sector and linking local businesses to potential markets abroad, exports is fast emerging as an important pillar of the self-sustaining economy evolving in the emirate. 

Dubai Exports has developed highly effective solutions extending to research, training and networking to enable local companies to identify and leverage opportunities overseas. As a result, local exporters, manufacturers and service providers are able to secure all support from the government as well as trade promotion bodies in key markets abroad. 

“Dubai Exports being part of the Trade Promotion Organisations network has been a critical strength in driving exports out of Dubai. Through the Tradelink Partnership of this network, Dubai Exports has been able to provide an extensive portfolio of services to its members in foreign markets,” said Al Awadi. 

The network also allows Dubai Exports to learn from the experience of more established and mature TPOs and build export-related knowledge among the Emirati workforce, thus contributing to Emiratisation. 

Al Awadi said the ITC recognition will be a significant boost to Dubai Exports’ efforts to create a comprehensive export ecosystem that allows all local businesses, including the dominant small and medium enterprise (SME) community, to overcome export barriers and make the best use of Dubai’s location, infrastructure and competitiveness. 

Commenting on the TPOs shortlisted this year, Patricia R. Francis, ITC Executive Director and chairperson of the Adjudicating Panel for the award said: “Of all the candidates for 2012 Awards, these TPOs in particular have made a difference in their home countries to ensure that their exporters have become competitive in the global market. They have worked hard and they have set examples for others to follow.” 

Four award winners will be announced from the shortlisted candidates at the 9th TPO Network World Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 18 October.