Buoyed by the growing trade with the UAE and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, Chinese companies have lined up major presence at the 20th International Autumn Trade Fair 2005 (IATF05), which will open tomorrow at the Dubai International Exhibition and Convention Centre (DIECC).
IATF05 and `Hong Kong in Style’ will be inaugurated by H.E Shaikh Hasher Al Maktoum, Director of Information, Dubai at 10.30 AM in the presence of senior government officials, trade representatives and diplomats including Mr. David Eldon, Council Member of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Chairman of Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce.
Commenting on the participation of Chinese companies at the IATF05 which will run till November 10 2005, senior officials of Al Fajer Information & Services, organizers of the show and the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Dubai said that the official country pavilion will host 183 companies showcasing a wide range of products ranging from electronic items, textiles, including ready-made garments, household items etc.
Mr. Simon Zhang, Commercial Counsellor of Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Dubai, said: “The Chinese trade with the Middle East countries and the UAE in particular is growing at a fast pace. The total trade with the UAE from January- August 2005 was to the tune of US$6.9 billion, 35 per cent up from the previous corresponding period. Out of the total bilateral trade, exports to the UAE made up US$5.5 billion, while imports to the tune of US$1.4 billion primarily consisted of oil and oil products.”
“Our participation at the IATF05 is a reflection of increasing trade relationship with the region. The UAE is one of our biggest market.” he said.
Mr. Zhang said the increase in trade in 2005 follows a similar rise in the full year of 2004. “Our total trade with the UAE in 2004 was at US$8.1 billion, out of which Chinese exports to the emirate was at US$6.8 billion, 40 per cent which comprised electronics goods followed by textiles and other products.”
“In the region, the total Chinese trade with Arab countries clocked some US$37 billion in 2004 with our products increasingly penetrating the markets of GCC, Levant, Iraq and Sudan,” he said.
Mr. Zhang said Chinese companies have also made major inroads into sectors like construction and in 2004 the contracts these companies undertook valued at US$1 billion. “Our involvement in the construction sector is set to grow this year also by over US$500 million at least.”
In a significant indicator of the increasing Chinese presence in the local market, Mr. Zhang said there are about 2,000 Chinese companies in the UAE with established bases, which is a very large presence compared to Saudi Arabia where there are only 20 Chinese companies, in Kuwait some 10 and in the Sultanate of Oman 10 companies.
Elaborating on the large contingent of Chinese companies taking part at IATF05, Mr. Satish Khanna, General Manager of Al Fajer Information and Services said: “The major Chinese presence at IATF05 amply reflects the ambitious growth outlook these companies have in the regional market and vindicates the reputation of the fair as a successful trade platform for consumer goods.”
“The Chinese presence at the IATF has grown over the years in line with their increasing penetration of the local and regional market. IATF this year will also offer an ideal fair for the Chinese companies keen to enhance and expand their presence,” he added.
At this year’s IATF, 600 exhibitors from across the world are taking part including seven official country pavilions. The major exhibitors, apart from China, include Hong Kong, with the show, `Hong Kong in Style’ with over 200 companies, which will run in conjunction with the IATF05. The new entrants to the show this year are Singapore and Korea with 13 and 27 companies respectively.
The official country pavilions at the show will also include Bangladesh with 15 companies, India with 17 companies and Sri Lanka with eight companies. IATF05 will also feature 35 companies from the UAE, 12 from Croatia, seven from Turkey and 12 from Malaysia.
The Indian participation at the show will be under the auspices of National Small Industries Corporation while participation by Sri Lankan companies is organized by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Consulate General in the UAE.
