African market on Dubai’s radar

Considered as one of the most efficient chambers in the world, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry stands out from the rest and contributes towards the emirate’s economic growth and diversification. Its recent venture to the African market is a continuation of its success story.

TT Bureau
The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry perceives the African market as a lucrative investment destination and one of the key trading partners for the UAE. Atiq Juma Nasib, Senior Vice President–Commercial Services, Dubai Chamber, noted that Africa has been a key focus on Dubai Chamber’s expansion radar. Since the Chamber opened its representative office in Nairobi in 2016, it has seen non-oil trade between Kenya and Dubai increase steadily to exceed over $1 billion in the first nine months of 2017. The number of Kenyan companies has grown steadily over the years and now exceeds 300. Nasib spoke with top Kenyan journalists who visited the UAE to understand how the Middle Eastern country has succeeded in driving tourism growth and foreign investment. The journalists representing key media houses in Nairobi were led by UAE-based Kenyan investor, Jalal Balala.
Balala who is also the Executive Director of Al Azizah General Trading commended Dubai Chambers, adding that it is one of the most efficient and investor-centric Chambers in the world. He revealed that he is an active member of Dubai Chamber, having joined almost two decades ago, when he introduced the business of Kenya tea and coffee into the UAE and the Gulf region, under the name Al Azizah General Trading. The journalists conveyed a general message to Dubai Chamber’s top brass that Kenya has plenty of opportunities to offer UAE businessmen and investors, especially in the field of agriculture, logistics, transport,finance, ICT, manufacturing and infrastructure sectors. Nasib took the journalists on a tour of the Dubai Chamber headquarters, and explained how effective the Chamber and its international offices have been in providing value added to businesses in the UAE and abroad.
“Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry services over 217,000 members in all areas of Dubai including free zone companies, thus making it one of the world’s largest membership-based chambers of commerce. It is also considered as one of the leading chambers in the world in terms of the number of Certificates of Origin issued with an average of 3000 certificates being isssued daily,” said Nasib.
Nasib noted that the Chamber is aiming to deliver smart services to 80 per cent of its members in the near future. He explained that the Chamber also aims to eventually make its services accessible 24 hours a day and seven days a week. He said that Dubai Chamber also offers ATA Carnet, an international customs document for some goods that do not require payment of customs duty.