The UAE is planning 30 events this year, including international fairs, regional exhibitions and local forums, to promote its exports.
Among the fairs the Ministry of Economy is planning to attend this year are the Hannover Fair in Germany, the Annual Investment Forum in Dubai in April, Expo Pakistan in Karachi in September and Sial Food in Paris in October, said Mohamed Nasser Hamdan Al Zaabi, the director of the trade promotion department at the Ministry of Economy.
Sultan Al Mansouri, the Minister of Economy, will head the country’s delegation participating in the Partnership Summit in Bangalore this month as well as making official trips to the United States, Russia and China to promote trade.
The trade promotion department will also focus this year on organising events and activities for exporters in Saudi Arabia, China and central Asia, where Abu Dhabi has a number of memorandum of understandings. Four trade delegations will be sent to Ethiopia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and China, focusing on construction and hydrocarbons.
The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development said the value of the emirate’s foreign trade stood at Dh128.9 billion at the end of 2013, with imports accounting for Dh98.1bn, re-exports Dh16.2bn and exports Dh14.6bn.
mkassem@thenational.ae
