Dubai records 30.4 pct growth in non-oil trade with ASEAN
9/10/2008 17:14
The non-oil trade between Dubai and the member countries of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) reached 23 billion dirhams
(US$6.3 billion) in the first half of 2008, up 30.4 percent over the 2007
period, local newspaper Khaleej Times reported today.
The figures were
released by the statistics department of the Dubai World, a holding company that
manages a portfolio of businesses and projects for the government of Dubai, the
second largest emirate of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
In the first half
of 2008, Dubai's imports from ASEAN countries reached 20.015 billion dirhams,
representing a growth of 28.4 percent compared with the corresponding period of
2007.
Dubai's exports and re-exports to ASEAN countries stood at 1. 881
billion dirhams and 1.141 billion dirhams in the first six months of this year,
up 29 percent and 84.3 percent respectively over the 2007 period.
Malaysia,
Thailand and Singapore were Dubai's top three trade partners within ASEAN, which
accounted for 34.3 percent, 24.8 percent and 18.4 percent respectively of the
total non-oil trade between the two sides.
"The UAE, particularly Dubai, has
strong trade and economic relations with ASEAN countries based on close
cooperation in various areas, free capital flow, joint ventures and mutual
investments," said Saeed Alqaizi, a senior official with Dubai World.
"This
has reflected very positively in the impressive growth of trade between the
economies over the years," he added.
Founded in 1967, ASEAN groups Brunei,
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand and Vietnam.(US$1 = 3.67 dirhams)
Xinhua
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