Visit to strengthen bilateral trade between the UAE and Pakistan
Release date: 28th March 2009

The Dubai Export Development Corporation (EDC) received the Consul General of Pakistan along with a top level business delegation led by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) to enhance trade and investment between Dubai, the UAE and Pakistan.

Headed by H.E. Khursshad Ahmed Junejo, Ambassador of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Dr. Saeed Khan Mohammad, Consul General of Pakistan in Dubai, Sultan Ahmed Chawla, President of FPPCI, and Engineer Saed Al Awadi, Chief Executive Officer of EDC, the business meeting aims to explore further export opportunities between the two countries through a series of joint promotional trade activities. EDC highlighted the corporation’s export promotion and development services to Pakistani delegation, including its advocacy role as Dubai’s export support organisation.

“Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, Dubai in particular, have a history of trade and cooperation and there are currently significant opportunities for both countries in regards to cooperative export. With this business meeting, we aim to identify and implement projects that will prove beneficial to companies of both countries,” said Khan.

"In this meeting we have 150 companies from Pakistan representing 35 different sectors, gathering for the first time outside Pakistan to benefit from the potential trade horizons that the UAE has. The foreign direct investment from the UAE in Pakistan has grown up, and we have many investments from the UAE such as from Al Falah Bank and Emaar. We would also like to see some deals from the Emirates in the energy sectors," he added.

Dr. Mirza Ikhtiar Baij, Chairman, PAK–UAE Business Council furthered, "This meeting is considered as an important platform where we can exchange information to improve the bilateral trade for both countries. We are keen to capitalise on the UAE as the business hub of the Middle East, as our exports to the Emirates have reached $22 billion in 2008, where textile exports amounted to $12 billion."

The Pakistani delegation consisted of companies from the agriculture, textile, real estate, digital imaging, oil & gas, manufacturing, and publishing sectors. During the business meeting with EDC, the delegation also met with various key Dubai-based organisations to explore investment opportunities in the Emirates.

“EDC, as part of its mandate to promote exports from Dubai and the UAE, is keen to assist foreign delegations intending to source products from the Emirates and attract more businesses to establish in Dubai, which will increase its status as a key regional trade hub. In the period of 2007-2008, Pakistan's imports from the UAE rose to $5.2 billion from $3.4 billion, making the UAE as Pakistan's second-largest trading partner after the US,” said Al Awadi.

The discussion with Pakistan is part of a broader campaign by EDC to develop and enhance trade relationships with countries across the world. In conducting these discussions, EDC is working to uncover investment opportunities that will benefit both economies involved in the trade process

“In FPCCI, we always look for trade and export opportunities for the Pakistan business community. We are dedicated to the development of international trade and investments. EDC, as the government organisation in charge of promoting exports, will help us expand trade in the UAE,” said Chawla.

The size of Pakistan-UAE bilateral trade touched $7 billion in the last fiscal year ended June 30 with the balance of trade in favour of the UAE. The UAE's exports to Pakistan are primarily crude oil, chemicals, rubber, plastic, machinery, engineering items and pure gold.