• Region is second largest tea consumer globally
• 3^rd Global Dubai Tea Forum concluding day sees trends in innovation, market developments and flavoured tea consumption

The Middle East and Africa region accounts for 13.8 per cent of global tea consumption, and is the second largest consumer of tea globally, according to tea experts at the 3^rd Global Dubai Tea Forum 2010.

The two-day biennial forum concluded today with discussions of trends in innovation and current market developments; tea consumption habits in Canada, the United States, Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States; as well as the growing popularity of flavoured tea globally. During the event, tea experts also examined effective ways of marketing tea and creating stronger brands, followed by a unique tea tasting session that allowed participants to try a range of teas from different tea producing countries.

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• Imports grow to AED 93.872 million; an increase of 4%
• Non–oil exports reach AED 9,505 million; an increase of 52%
• Re–exports cross AED 8,694 million; an increase of 39.3%

Abu Dhabi’s foreign trade rose to AED 112.071 billion in 2009, an increase of 9% as compared to 2008 as per annual statistics of foreign trade operations announced by HE Saeed Ahmed Abdullah Al Muhairi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Customs today.

HE Al Muhairi pointed out that Abu Dhabi’s volume of foreign trade grew despite global economic challenges and said, “One of the key figures of 2009 customs statistics is the growth in non–oil exports that climbed to AED 9,505 million, an increase of 52% compared to AED 6,253 million in 2008. Imports also grew to AED 93.872 million compared to AED 90,284 million in 2008, an increase of 4%.” Read more

• Annual imports stand at 576 tonnes; exports reach 403 tonnes
• Average gold price US$973 per ounce
• India continues to rank as top export and import partner

Dubai Multi Commodities Centre Authority (DMCCA) announced today that the total gold trade through Dubai stood at US$29 billion in 2009, matching the value of gold traded in 2008. This data was compiled by the Data and Statistics Reporting division of Dubai Trade, an innovative, simple and secure portal that combines all electronic services provided by DP World, Economic Zones World, Dubai Customs and Dubai Multi Commodities Centre.

For the 12 months ending December 31, 2009, a total of 576 tonnes of gold was imported into Dubai, compared to 674 tonnes in the previous year. Although imports in tonnage terms saw a 15 per cent decline compared to the record set in 2008, it was 16 per cent higher than the average import of 498 tonnes since 2001. In 2009, gold exports from Dubai reached 403 tonnes, an increase of nine per cent compared to 371 tonnes in 2008. Read more

RAK FTZ is already up and running in high gear this year, with February alone seeing its involvement in three key events by the month’s end.  Having just attended the recently held 2010 Cairo ICT and Gulf Food 2010, the free zone is getting ready for the upcoming Expo Pakistan, which it will also be sponsoring.

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Dubai Export Development Corporation (EDC), an agency of the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED), Government of Dubai, and the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), an autonomous entity within the Islamic Development Bank Group, jointly organised and hosted a trade information sharing workshop for UAE businesses from 31st January to 2nd February, 2010, at the Raffles Dubai.

Following the success of a training session, also collaborated by EDC and ITFC, on export strategies and international marketing held last year in Egypt, this current workshop was intended to provide valuable knowledge and trade information to more than 20 companies and enterprises from various sectors in the trade industry.

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Dubai Export Development Corporation (EDC), an agency of the Dubai Department of Economic Development, Government of Dubai, together with Apex-Brazil the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency, has hosted a seminar for UAE companies to capitalise on various investment projects being undertaken in Brazil.

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Dubai Duty Free last night closed out 2009 with record annual sales of AED4.1 billion – some AED145 million or +3.7% ahead of the previous high set in 2008, reports The Moodie Report.

“We are very happy,” Managing Director Colm McLoughlin told The Moodie Report just after midnight UAE time.

The record sales represent a remarkable performance – and transformation – at the world’s leading duty free sales location (based on 2008 figures).

In common with most travel retailers around the world Dubai Duty Free was hit hard by the impact of the global financial crisis – and Dubai’s own well-documented economic issues – during much of 2009.

The retailer was also severely affected by the Pound Sterling’s slump, which made UAE duty free pricing far less attractive for the important UK passenger base.

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Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone (RAK FTZ) recently welcomed a delegation from the US Consulate in Dubai, led by the Hon Justin H. Siberell, who was appointed to the position of General Consul in August 2009.
The delegation, which was visiting Ras Al Khaimah on official business, was received by RAK FTZ’s Chairman, H.H. Sheikh Faisal bin Saqr Al Qassimi, and CEO, Oussama El Omari, and representatives of various departments in the free zone, who shared the free zone’s strategy and briefed them on its history and progress as well its latest and planned projects in Ras Al Khaimah.

During the meeting, the Consul General expressed interest in strengthening ties with RAK FTZ and the Government of Ras Al Khaimah and discussed possible avenues for future collaboration aimed at encouraging American investment in the emirate, which has already proven its ability to attract US businesses and investors. Out of the approximately 700 American Companies present in the UAE, 163 are registered with Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone. In 2009, the free zone established offices in New York and Miami and has plans to further expand its presence in the US market in the near future.

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The total volume of trade between China and the UAE was US $ 14.99 billion in the first nine months of 2009, with exports to UAE amounting $13.29 billion against $ 1.7 billion imports into China, says the Commercial Office of Chinese Consulate in Dubai.

In 2008, total trade volumes stood at $ 28.16 billion, out of which $23.55 billion were exports to UAE and $ 4.61 billion were imports into China.

The bulk of products imported from China are household and domestic appliances, cookware and kitchenware, tyre and rubber products, shoes, hardware, machinery and machine tool and building materials.

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The GCC region has experienced a steady growth in the beverage industry in recent years and Dubai Export Development Corporation (EDC) an agency of the Dubai Department of Economic Development, is seeking to ensure that the UAE becomes the regional export hub for this sector.

EDC and the Department of Economic Development have successfully supported the second edition of the Dubai Drink Technology Expo 2009 from 6th to 8th December 2009. EDC has also promoted UAE companies in their pavilion, where they have been able to showcase their products and services to more than 10,000 trade show visitors.

Barakat Quality Plus, a market leader in fresh food products, and Kimoha Entrepreneurs Ltd., an ISO 9001:2000 company and a pioneer in manufacturing and marketing labels, were able to present their platform for global modernisation in drink technology including modern technologies in the region’s beverage industry.

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