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nent<br />
for Dubai’s growth model<br />
(Top): The DED building; (Above): DED’s business registration office<br />
serve as effective platforms <strong>to</strong> collect<br />
feedback of various stakeholders <strong>to</strong> our<br />
activities, and <strong>to</strong> understand the issues<br />
they are facing and, ultimately, <strong>to</strong> assist<br />
them with policy development, if and<br />
where needed.”<br />
Combining a number of solutions<br />
designed <strong>to</strong> enhance Dubai’s master-plan<br />
for its logistics sec<strong>to</strong>r, the partnership is<br />
also envisioned <strong>to</strong> support the growth<br />
of other sec<strong>to</strong>rs in the UAE and the<br />
whole Gulf region. Seen <strong>to</strong> deliver value<br />
by 2010, the initiatives involved are the<br />
development of a technology that reduces<br />
carbon emissions within the logistics<br />
sec<strong>to</strong>r, the reduction of port congestion<br />
and the ways <strong>to</strong> develop the small- and<br />
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the<br />
manufacturing sec<strong>to</strong>r.<br />
EXPORTS SUPPORT<br />
The manufacturing sec<strong>to</strong>r is a major<br />
concern also of Dubai’s Export<br />
Development Corporation (EDC), an<br />
au<strong>to</strong>nomous organisation tasked by the<br />
government <strong>to</strong> facilitate the creation of<br />
an enabling environment for exports.<br />
Created in 2006, EDC’s mandate also<br />
involves enhancing the competitiveness<br />
of Dubai as a preferred trading partner <strong>to</strong><br />
important economies worldwide.<br />
The organisation is now on the<br />
advanced stage of implementing some<br />
of the tasks comprising its five-year goal,<br />
says Engr Saed Al Awadi, chief executive<br />
officer of EDC. Since last year, the EDC<br />
has been participating in various local,<br />
regional and international exhibitions and<br />
conferences <strong>to</strong> promote Dubai exports <strong>to</strong><br />
various markets. It has also created a web<br />
site, whose hard copy will be out in May,<br />
containing comprehensive information for<br />
both exporters and buyers.<br />
Another task being done by the EDC <strong>to</strong><br />
support exporters is the publication of a<br />
series of booklets containing information<br />
on the various sec<strong>to</strong>rs, such as food and<br />
plastic, in the manufacturing industry.<br />
Al Awadi describes the plastic trade as<br />
a “thriving industry”, which posted a<br />
compound annual growth rate of 13% in<br />
quantity between 2004 and 2007 while<br />
re-exports and imports registered growth<br />
rates of 10% and 18%, respectively. This<br />
shows a “healthy promising sec<strong>to</strong>r”,<br />
according <strong>to</strong> an EDC study.<br />
Since last year,<br />
the EDC has been<br />
participating in<br />
various local,<br />
regional and<br />
international<br />
exhibitions and<br />
conferences <strong>to</strong><br />
promote Dubai<br />
exports <strong>to</strong> various<br />
markets<br />
March 2009 The supply chain and logistics link 41
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