Dubai customs celebrated World Statistics Day, which is celebrated worldwide on the 20th October every year, by an awareness event that help introduce the significance of statistics on international trade in the decision-making process in both sectors; government and private. On this occasion, H.E. Ahmed Butti Ahmed, Executive Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, Dubai Customs Director General stressed that Dubai’s international trade constitutes around 78% of the total direct non-oil international trade in the UAE. Such a thing reflects on the marvelous significance of statistics in shaping wise policies and making appropriate decisions to achieve the sought objectives. Statistics introduce as well a clear image on the trade relations between the UAE and countries of the world and demonstrate the consolidated relations in specified periods which contribute to setting studies that help further develop these relations.
He pointed as well that Dubai Customs offers a number of strategic facilitations to the business community including timely and precise declarations that help make efficient decisions, attracting investment opportunities in Dubai particularly and the UAE as a whole. It seeks to do so by providing statistical reports on non-oil international trade for all sectors and initial and final statistical data and information which enable the business community to understand the trends in the market. He added:" Dubai Customs supports the national economy with information to help government and private parties make smart decisions that help shape the future, provide data which enable experts and economists to measure the GDP and support the different projects taken by the government departments in the UAE."
H.E. Ahmed Butti called for coordinating efforts among the different government and national organizations which work on issuing economy-related statistics to ensure consistency and avoid complication of the input on which investors rely on to make investment decisions. He also expressed his hopes that Dubai would continue to function as a focal support to decision makers across the government and private bodies in order to reinforce the leading role the Department plays in economic life bearing in mind its aspiration of being the Gateway to Dubai’s Prosperity.
In its 41st cycle, the United Nations General Assembly issued a decision in February 2010 which stated celebrating the World Statistics Day on October 20th of every year in recognition of the international community for the significance of statistics in structuring our communities as well as the achievements made by the worldwide statistics centers and organizations.