Pakistan's exports to UAE set to grow 10 per cent

The UAE imports perishable vegetables, fruits, meat, poultry, rice, engineering and electrical products, textiles and ICT products from Pakistan.

Abu Dhabi: Pakistan is targeting a 10 per cent growth in exports to the UAE, which reached $3 billion in financial year 2014-15, according to a top diplomat.
"We are targeting 10 per cent growth in our exports to the UAE during 2015-16," Asif Ali Khan Durrani, Pakistan's Ambassador to the UAE, told Khaleej Times on the sidelines of an event at the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI) to host a trade delegation from the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).
The ambassador said year-on-year bilateral trade volume has grown 11 per cent to $9 billion in the last two years, but enormous potential exists to improve these numbers.
"In order to capitalise on growth potential, Pakistan embassy is more active to invite more trade delegations, aiming for greater participation in exhibitions and trade shows in the UAE," Durrani said.
He said the ADCCI visit was part of this initiative and more such delegations are lined up for the future. "These will boost interaction between business communities and promote greater visibility of Pakistani products," Durrani said.
The UAE imports perishable vegetables, fruits, meat, poultry, rice, engineering and electrical products, textiles and ICT products from Pakistan. Though no major item has been added to the traditional exports list, there has been a rise in the volume of exports recently.
The visit by the SCCI is an unprecedented visit by any Pakistani trade body, Durrani said.
Members met ADCCI director-general Mohammed Helal Al Muhairi. They also organised an exhibition of sports and surgical goods, industrial wares and auto parts.
With the improvement in electricity supply in Pakistan, industrial output has increased considerably this year, the ambassador said. Industries are also spending on building their electricity generation capabilities. This has enhanced production for both export and domestic consumption, he added.
Habib Ahmed, commercial counsellor at the Pakistan Embassy, said the Sialkot exhibitors were targeting a market worth $56 billion annually. Elaborating, he said the vehicles and auto parts is a $20 billion trade; surgical goods is worth $3 billion; sports goods market is over $1 billion; rice and grains $2 billion; uniforms, badges, protective gear and workwear at $3 billion.
The response to the exhibition was positive, with requests for dealership coming from local businessmen, Ahmed added.
haseeb@khaleejtimes.com