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Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Director General of Dubai Customs discussed means of boosting mutual cooperation between Dubai and China with representatives of more than 20 Chinese companies headed by the Chinese Consul General to Dubai Mr Li Xuhang.
Discussions covered investment opportunities and the role played by PCFC in port and free zone management and how to benefit from its experience in this field. The visitors were briefed on Dubai Customs experience in developing and sustaining customs systems and international supply chain.
The meeting was attended by Abdullah Mohammed Al Khaja, Executive Director of Customer Management Division and a number of customs executive directors and heads of customs departments and centers. It came within Dubai Customs efforts to enhance cooperation and coordination with diplomatic missions, and promote facilities and services delivered to investors and merchants under Ertebaat initiative, which Dubai Customs launched to strengthen ties with foreign businesses.
“Dubai and China have strong relationships and a long history of cultural and trade cooperation. China comes first on DP World’s agenda in Asia, and we have strong presence through the terminals DP operates. Not to forget also that China is Dubai’s top strategic partner with 81% growth in trade in the last ten years to make AED 139 billion in 2018 compared to AED 77 billion in 2009” said Musabih.
Director General of Dubai Customs pointed out that Dubai ensures best investment facilities and incentives provided to all friendly states in fulfilment of the directives and vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.
He added:
“We are happy to see more interest from the Chinese companies to invest in Dubai and a stronger presence in Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA). This encouraged us to launch the Traders Market; the first smart free zone market place in the Middle East for the retail and wholesale industries. It allows international traders to procure bulk products in Dubai at wholesale prices, and supports Dubai bold plans including the Dubai Silk Road.”
There are 876 Chinese companies registered at Dubai Customs. These include 623 companies with trade licenses, 244 with free zone licenses and 9 with professional licenses, Musabih explained.
“Dubai trade with China saw 4% growth to reach AED 71.4 billion in the first half of 2019 compared to AED 68.8 billion in the same period in 2018. There are strategic agreements between the UAE and China including the recently signed mutual recognition Authorized Economic Operator agreement which will facilitate trade, especially with the advent of EXPO 2020” Musabih said.
The IPR Department at Dubai Customs delivered a presentation about their role in protecting the economy from intellectual property violations as part of their efforts in supporting Dubai vision for a sustainable future.
Eman Badr Al-Suwaidy, Director of Customs Declaration Management, who is in charge of the Authorized Economic Operator program, said the program is a WCO requirement to facilitate trade, and signing a mutual recognition agreement with China is a big step forward in this field.
Nasim Al Muhairi, Director of the Statistics Department at Dubai Customs said Dubai imports from China during the first half of 2019 reached AED 63.9, exports made AED 2.7 billion and re-exports made AED 4.8 billion.
“AED 36.6 billion is the outcome of sea trade, air trade accounted for AED 24.7 billion and trade by land reached AED 10 billion. Phones topped commodities imported from China with AED 21 billion, followed by computers with AED 6.9 billion and microphone and earphone sets with AED 1.2 billion” she explained.
Nemanand Bobade, Project Manager at Project Delivery Department said:
“E-commerce strategy has been recently adopted in Dubai and the strategy is expected to boost and promote the emirate as a global electronic and logistics hub. E-commerce is expected to contribute to AED 12 billion to the Gross Domestic Product by 2023.”