Dubai Exports, the export promotion agency of Dubai Economy, has announced its strategic plan for the year 2020 including a variety of events and outreach programs aimed to boost exports as well as re-exports through Dubai and expand the global footprint of products and services from Dubai. The plan reflects the strategic focus of Dubai Exports on accomplishing the leadership's vision and directives to reinforce Dubai as an internationally competitive export as well as re-export hub and develop exports into a key contributor to the economy of Dubai and the UAE. The plan was announced at the Exporters' Forum hosted by Dubai Exports recently. Participants at the Forum included local businesses that have chosen Dubai and the UAE as their operations hub and contributed to develop exports out of Dubai while performing remarkably and achieving optimal customer satisfaction through innovative initiatives. Diversifying export markets for local businesses will remain the prime focus of the Dubai Exports strategy in 2020. With 23 events including trade missions and exhibitions lined up for the year, Dubai Exports will strengthen its support services to UAE exporters in penetrating new markets and establishing productive partnerships. The 2020 calendar follows an eventful 2019 during which Dubai Exports took exporters from the UAE to 10 exhibitions and three trade missions in different international markets. Altogether, 675 B2B meetings were also facilitated by Dubai Exports during the past year enabling local exporters and potential buyers internationally to explore trade partnerships. Commented Engineer Saed Al Awadi, CEO of Dubai Exports: "The year 2020 has started on an exciting note for Dubai Exports as we see tremendous opportunities in the launch of the Dubai Future District by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the decision to set up a new logistical and legislative framework for opening new markets. It will enable Dubai Exports to take advantage of varied channels to successfully explore new markets and highlight the export competitiveness of Dubai." Al Awadi added: "Industrial growth and export competitiveness have placed Dubai in an advantageous position to boost exports and add many emerging markets as trade partners. In 2020 Dubai Exports will introduce the export capabilities of Dubai to a number of strategic markets across new platforms and exhibitions, including the UK Food Show, Nigeria Agrofood, Medical Fair Asia, and PPP Kenya, in addition to continuing our participation in annual events such as Bakubuild Azerbaijan, SIAL Paris, SIAL China, and Worldfood Moscow." Uzbuild Tashkent, The Big 5 KSA, ANUFOOD, Kenya Beauty, INTERPACK, PLMA Africa Food Show, Big 5 Kenya, and the Future Manufacturing & Trade Summit are the other major events that Dubai Exports will be attending this year. Abdul Rahman Al Omari, Director of Exports Market Development in Dubai Exports, said: "The year 2020 will see Dubai Exports in 19 international exhibitions and conferences hosted across different countries including the UAE and four specialized trade missions to the UK, Africa, Armenia and Iraq. The Trade missions play a major role in enabling local exporters get acquainted with the business environment and officials in promising markets overseas." Al Omari added that the ‘Exporters' Gateway,' launched in line with Dubai's Smart City strategy, has added a significant digital solution to the Dubai Exports suite of services. The portal offers knowledge and assistance to enable exporters identify opportunities across seven key sectors in more than 40 target markets globally. More than 60 products in which UAE exporters have a competitive edge across target markets are currently listed on the portal. The portal is particularly advantageous to exporters in overcoming major challenges in marketing their products and in navigating the export process and markets overseas. — SG
