UAE’s leading manufacturers will showcase the growth of the non-oil sector at the upcoming Made in UAE exhibition and Conference in Sharjah.

The first edition of the event will run from December 9 to 12 at Expo Centre Sharjah.

A pre-show press conference held to provide details about the show was held at Expo Centre Sharjah yesterday (December 4) at Expo Centre Sharjah.

“The manufacturing sector is the direct beneficiary of our country’s diversification programme, with the second largest chunk of investments going to the sector,” said Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah.

“This has helped the sector in obtaining latest technological innovations to boost the quality, quantity and cost-effectiveness of its products, which will be showcased to domestic and international buyers during the Made In UAE exhibition.”

Of the nearly $84 billion spent on development projects in the UAE by both public and private sectors in 2012, manufacturing received the second biggest chunk of 14.7 per cent, behind real estate (17.8 per cent), according to latest statistics.

Manufactured goods accounted for about 53 per cent of UAE’s non-oil exports and 22 per cent of its total exports in 2012.

“We are bringing together more than 100 exhibitors from sectors like foodstuff, building materials, furniture & home decor and industrial products. Made in UAE will also feature a conference component, which will help participants gain better insight into market dynamics and how to promote their products to a bigger audience,” added Midfa.

“The Made in UAE show is the result of the country’s policies aimed at helping reduce our dependence on oil income and ensure sustainability through initiatives that promote the manufacturing industry,” said Mohamed Ahmed Al Nuaimi, assistant secretary general, UAE Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FCCI).

“The exhibition is offering local manufacturers a sure-shot platform from where they can target both the regional as well as international markets, especially emerging economies.”

The economies in Asia accounted for about 77 per cent of UAE’s exports of manufactured goods in 2012, with 10.4 per cent going to Africa. The nearly 40 free zones in the country are the key drivers of the manufacturing sector, with the majority of the industrial units operating out of them, luring foreign direct investments to the tune of US$8.2 billion in 2012, up from US$7.68 billion the year before.

“Continuing government support, mega deals like the ones signed recently by Mubadala with world's leading airplane manufacturers to expand their aero parts production and events like World Expo 2020 will propel the growth of the manufacturing sector in the country in a big way,” said Sultan Jemei Obaid, deputy director general and Exhibitions Committee Chairman of FCCI.

“As in the past, we are also focusing on SMEs for the Made in UAE exhibition,” he added.

The Made in UAE exhibition is an important marketing and sales platform for SMEs, which account for 92 per cent of the country’s total registered companies, 86 per cent of the workforce in the private sector and 40 per cent of the GDP.

The show will display food and beverages; textile and readymade garments; leather, wood, woodwork and furniture; paper and paper products; chemical and chemical products; oil, rubber and plastic products; metal and non-metal raw materials; machinery and other manufacturing equipment; ceramics and tiles; cement and concrete and other building materials.

Apart from industrial units from across the country, the show will also bring together free zones, municipalities and government establishments. – TradeArabia News Service