Dubai Customs Director General with Swiss Consul H.E. Ahmed Butti Ahmed, Executive Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation and Dubai Customs Director General has recently received in his main office at Dubai Customs headquarters in Port Rashid the newly appointed H.E. Walter Deplazes, Switzerland Consul General in Dubai to look into opportunities of mutual cooperation.
H.E. Ahmed Butti stressed the Department’s keenness to foster trade and economic relations with Switzerland and provide all the necessary facilitations for the Swiss business community as trade exchange between both sides increased by 26% in 2010 with AED 26.7 billion compared to AED 21 billion in 2009. Exports topped the trade exchange list at AED 13.4 billion; imports are estimated over AED 10.3 billion and re-exports amounted to AED 2.757 billion.
H.E. Ahmed Butti presented a complete explanatory on the Department as well as other local customs departments’ business mechanisms. He also presented the recently launched project; ERTIBAT by Dubai Customs which was launched to foster cooperation between the Department and the trade attachés in Dubai and the affiliated business councils. He called as well for further exchange of information and expertise which contribute to the development of customs business and serve the public interests.
The Swiss Consul highlighted the significance of ERTIBAT Project and reflected Switzerland’s interest in achieving more economic cooperation between the two countries. He also commended the efforts made by Dubai Customs to reinforce legitimate trade movement and the implemented business systems at the Department which reflects its interest to encourage traders and investors to perform business in Dubai with minimum administrative requirements and service fees.
He pointed out as well that Switzerland enjoys distinguished trade and diplomatic relations with Dubai and always seeks to consolidate cooperation taking into account the Emirate’s vital position in the fields of economy and tourism.
jewelry, precious stones and gold topped Dubai’s list of imports, exports and re-exports lists. Watches and medical equipment came second place in Dubai imports from Switzerland an in the re-export list as well.