The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently showcased Dubai’s economic prospects and competitive advantages as a strategic trade hub during its participation at the 4th National Export Forum in Kiev, Ukraine.

The forum, jointly organised by the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Kiev City State Administration, brought together more than 150 participants from 14 countries, including Germany, Poland, Hungary, Canada, Lithuania, the UAE, Georgia, Italy and Nigeria, among others, said a statement from Dubai Chamber.

The forum took place on June 4 and aimed to support Ukrainian exporters, expand their reach in foreign markets and address obstacles that are limiting trade growth, it said.

Ukrainian businesses and government leaders attending the event expressed their intention to continue boosting exports to the UAE and the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region and highlighted Dubai's role as an important economic partner to Ukraine and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

During the forum, representatives from the chamber’s Azerbaijan office delivered an informative presentation highlighting Dubai’s global appeal and various strengths including its ideal geographic location between East and West, world-class infrastructure, business-friendly environment and attractive free zones, said a statement.

UAE-Ukrainian trade has remained robust over the last few years, the presentation revealed, with iron and steel, machinery and dairy products being the top products exported from Ukraine to the UAE. On the other hand, plastics and polymer materials, machinery, coffee and tea were the top products exported from the UAE to Ukraine, it said.

The presentation highlighted several key sectors and areas where UAE and Ukrainian companies can explore bilateral business opportunities, such as food security, security and cyber security, smart services, healthcare, hospitality and tourism, and education, it added.

Omar Khan, director of international offices at Dubai Chamber stressed the importance of participating in trade events like the National Export Forum as they provide the chamber with an ideal platform to promote Dubai on a global level and build relationships with key stakeholders and traders.

He noted that there is strong interest among Ukrainian companies that are keen to explore export trade opportunities in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (Menasa) region and leverage Dubai’s position as a strategic trade hub to expand their reach in new markets.

In addition, he emphasised the important role played by the chamber’s representative offices in strengthening Dubai’s trade relationships, adding that such efforts fall in line with the chamber’s strategy of exploring promising markets around the world and identifying attractive business opportunities for its 220,000 members. – TradeArabia News Service