WAM Dubai, May 30th, 2012 (WAM) -- As Africa Day 2012 was celebrated in the UAE this year, increasing trade and potential for future growth was the focus of discussions for UAE and African officials who attended the event yesterday.

Dubai World Trade Centre, a sponsor of the Africa Day celebrations in the UAE, highlighted the surge in trade visitors and African exhibitors exploring import and export opportunities at its events. Dubai World Trade Centre is the region's leading destination for exhibitions, conferences, and events and has experienced an impressive year-on-year spike in event related regional and global traffic.

Africa Day is the annual celebration of the establishment of the African Union (AU) 49 years ago. Events are held across the globe to commemorate the day and this year the event was celebrated in the UAE at the Abu Dhabi Inter-Continental Hotel. Dr Tarek Ahmed Al Heidan, the UAE Foreign Minister's Assistant for Political Affairs, and Hamid Chebira, Ambassador of Algeria and Dean of African Ambassadors to the UAE attended.

Members of the diplomatic and consular community, government officials and influential business people from the UAE and Africa also participated in the event.

Officials said the Africa Day celebrations highlighted the growing relations between the UAE and Africa was an opportune time to further those relations for the future as it was one of the few events that brought together North, South, East, Central and West Africa.

"Dubai World Trade Centre organised events are witnessing a considerable increase in African companies wanting to do business in Dubai, the region's leading trade hub strategically located within four hours flying time to one-third of the world's population. This is due to Africa's potential for re-export to the Middle East and Asian markets as well as the growing interest among African companies to expand their business across the borders to keep up with demand," said Trixee Loh, Senior Vice President, Dubai World Trade Centre.

As African companies seek to increase their export reach and grow their businesses across a range of sectors, Dubai World Trade Centre continues to see an increase in the number of exhibitors from the continent and provides them a platform for growth.

WAM/AM