Made in UAE Exhibition opens in Sharjah on Monday

Sharjah: Under the patronage of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the Expo Centre Sharjah is organising the first edition of the Made in the UAE Exhibition and Conference from December 9th to 12th. The U.A.E. efforts to focus on its manufacturing sector to boost its non-oil exports will expect to receive a big push when the country's leading manufacturers get together for the upcoming exhibition, according to the organisers. The details of the show were unveiled during a press conference yesterday at Expo Centre Sharjah, which was addressed by Mohamed Ahmed Al Nuaimi, Assistant Secretary General, U.A.E. Federation of U.A.E. Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FCCI), Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah, Sultan Jemei Obaid, Deputy Director General and Exhibitions Committee Chairman of FCCI, Mohammed Ali Al Kamali, Director of Export Markets Development, Dubai Export (Dubai Economic Department), Ahmad Al- Gaizi, Assistant Committee Chairman and Economic Department Manager and Ms. Hana Shabaneh, Managing Director, Success Steps Seminars and Conferences. "The manufacturing sector is the direct beneficiary of our country's diversification programme, with the second largest chunk of investments going to the sector. This has helped the sector in obtaining latest technological innovations to boost the quality, quantity and cost-effectiveness of its products, which will be showcased to domestic and international buyers during the Made in the U.A.E. Exhibition," said Mr. Midfa. Of the nearly US$84 billion spent on development projects in the U.A.E. by both public and private sectors in 2012, manufacturing received the second biggest chunk of 14.7 per cent, behind real estate (17.8 per cent), according to latest statistics. "We are bringing together more than 100 exhibitors from sectors like foodstuff, building materials, furniture and home decor and industrial products. Made in the U.A.E. will also feature a conference component, which will help participants gain better insight into market dynamics and how to promote their products to a bigger audience," he added. "The Made in UAE show is the result of the country's policies aimed at helping reduce our dependence on oil income and ensure sustainability through initiatives that promote the manufacturing industry. The exhibition is offering local manufacturers a sure-shot platform from where they can target both the regional as well as international markets, especially emerging economies," according to Mohamed Ahmed Al Nuaimi. Economies in Asia accounted for about 77 per cent of the U.A.E.'s exports of manufactured goods in 2012, with a further 10.4 per cent going to Africa. The nearly 40 free zones in the country are the key drivers of the manufacturing sector, with the majority of the industrial units operating out of them, luring foreign direct investments to the tune of US$8.2 billion in 2012, up from US$7.68 billion the year before. "Continuing government support, mega deals like the ones signed recently by Mubadala with the world's leading aeroplane manufacturers to expand their aero parts production and events like World EXPO 2020, will propel the growth of the manufacturing sector in the country in a big way," said Sultan Jemei Obaid. "As in the past, we are also focusing on SMEs for the Made in U.A.E. exhibition," he added. "The Made in the U.A.E. exhibition is an important marketing and sales platform for SMEs, which account for 92 per cent of the country's total registered companies, 86 per cent of the workforce in the private sector and 40 per cent of the GDP." The show will display food and beverages, textile and readymade garments, leather, wood, woodwork and furniture, paper and paper products, chemical and chemical products, oil, rubber and plastic products, metal and non-metal raw materials, machinery and other manufacturing equipment, ceramics and tiles, cement and concrete and other building materials. Apart from industrial units from across the country, the show will also bring together free zones, municipalities and government establishments. – Emirates News Agency, WAM