Companies from Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority (DAFZA) are seeking to increase their exports through services provided by Dubai Export Development Corporation (EDC), an agency of Dubai’s Department of Economic Development (DED).

The topic was discussed at a seminar, hosted by DAFZA and jointly conducted with EDC, which provided knowledge and trade information to companies and enterprises from DAFZA, and outlined selected export facilitation services available to DAFZA’s customers.

Among the topics discussed were the Dubai sub-contracting & partnership exchange programme (SPX), exporter assistance programme and EDC’s export publications and market intelligence provision for EDC Members.

EDC’s partners, Intertek Group, which provides product certification, inspection and laboratory testing services to UAE firms, and the Export Credit Insurance Company of the Emirates (ECIE), that helps UAE-based companies make use of opportunities to grow their exports safely, also presented their services during the seminar.

“Part of EDC’s strategic partnership with DAFZA is to provide its companies with necessary information on export services to enable them in entering and expanding operations in international markets,” said Saed Al Awadi, chief executive officer, EDC.

“DAFZA companies will obtain export information, market intelligence, export assistance and training from Dubai SPX, Intertek and ECIE.”

“This seminar focused on important areas which will encourage DAFZA companies to explore opportunities outside the UAE. Areas such as Export Credit, product certification services and sub-contracting facilities are among the essential tools which EDC is offering to local companies wishing to export,” he added.

Rami Rabia, senior export relations office at EDC, presented value-added services provided to exporters while Ahmed Al Qedrah, industry analyst, explained the significance of SPX. Al Qedrah also highlighted the process of matchmaking with subcontracting companies from different sectors, which will increase business opportunities for investors, traders and manufacturers.

Husny Saeed, general manager of Intertek Dubai, focused on the topic ‘Intertek's Government Services to DAFZA Exporters’.

He tackled the requirement of certificates of conformity for customs clearance in certain markets and how Intertek can help exporters comply with these requirements, as well as information on pre-shipment inspections (PSI) for export to countries which have implemented a Fiscal programme for the protection of duty revenues.

“Many governments around the world have implemented Product Conformity Programmes to ensure the safety and quality of goods being imported into their country and to protect their citizens from substandard products; for exporters it is a mandatory requirement in some markets to obtain a Certificate of Conformity,” Saeed said.

“Other governments require compliance to their Fiscal programmes through pre-shipment Inspection to determine correct levels of duty payable. Intertek, with its decades of experience, can help exporters comply with these requirements and ensure smooth customs procedure,” he added.

Schuyler D’Souza, chief commercial officer of ECIE, tackled various trade credit risk solutions and policies available for local exporters.

Among these policies were the popular short-term trade credit and documentary credit policies, the foreign investment insurance policy; critical/strategic supplies (CAPEX) policy for supplies made by foreign companies into local projects of strategic nature; and XoL policy suitable for crude oil suppliers and aluminium smelters and other projects. – TradeArabia News Service