WAM Abu Dhabi, May 30th, 2012 (WAM) -- The Department of Economic Development in Abu Dhabi (DED) Organized a workshop today at its headquarters in Abu Dhabi, and this workshop in cooperation with its strategic partners represented by the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA) and Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC). Moreover, the participation of number of companies and factories operating in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

The workshop was attended by Mohammed Omar Abdullah, Undersecretary of DED, Engineer Mohammed Saleh Badri, Director General of Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA), and Hussain Salem Al Katheeri, Secretary General of Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council and Dr. Adeeb Al Afifi, Director of Exports Support '&' Foreign Trade, DED's International Economic Relations Sector.

Dr. Adeeb Al Afifi pointed out in his introductory speech that the importance of this workshop stems from the role played by standardization and metrology as effective means of ensuring the quality and safety of goods and services and thereby developing local products and promoting opportunities for exports, which is reflected directly on the progress of national economy .

He pointed out that this workshop reflects the constructive cooperation between DED and its partners from government agencies and public and private sectors alike, as they represent an important opportunity to identify the needs of national industry in the field of standardization and metrology and raise awareness among companies and workers in the industrial sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

He stressed on the importance of implementing standardization and metrology for local products and services and to provide information to exporters and manufacturers, and to identify the procedures that will enhance the competitiveness of their products and give them the ability to compete locally and globally.

He added that restructuring the economy and diversifying the productivity base are considered one of the main pillars from which the efforts of the Government of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi take off to achieve sustainable development embodied in Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 and it is also considered one of the most important objectives.

He explained that DED has a central and tangible role in the leadership of the various efforts of the DED in bringing about requested changes in the overall structure of economy in cooperation with its strategic partners from government agencies and public and private sectors, where DED works on different processes in order to achieve the desired economic diversification .Supporting and developing non-oil exports is considered a priority and is given care and special attention.

He added that that the development of the performance of non-oil exports in recent years reflects the success of the efforts of DED in this objective , so the period from 2005 to 2011 witnessed an increase of non-oil exports for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and doubled 4 times rising from around AED 3.2 billion in 2005 to almost AED 11.5 billion in 2011 with an average growth rate of 24% during this period.

He pointed out that these figures are expected to increase significantly in the next period and DED will continue its efforts in supporting export's development and it will work to propose government 's policy for exporting and implementing it .

He added also that the DED will continue its efforts in providing the necessary technical support to companies in the form of providing comprehensive information on foreign markets as well as metrology and international standards beside providing marketing studies, training programs and tools for dialogue and negotiations with international buyers as well as sponsorship of these companies in the forums and international exhibitions.

Dr. Adeeb Al Afifi, in the context of his speech said: " In the light of the increasing pace of opening up for the global economic, we should deal seriously with the challenges of the global economic landscape and try to take advantage of this openness to access new markets, by keeping up with international requirements and standards that qualify our national competition in the markets World. " He stressed that the sophisticated industry which could strongly compete in international markets must be precisely realize the national infrastructure for standardization, metrology, tests, and analysis of the matching procedures.

He mentioned that based on the fact that all stages of the value chain of the product such as designing, manufacturing, storing, transporting and distribution affect the product's quality, we should take in consideration that all these standards and metrology of deferent stages represent a key factor in improving the quality of local products and increase their competitiveness in both local and international markets.

At the end of his speech, Dr. Adeeb Al Afifi thanked the strategic partners of DED to support its efforts to develop and promote exports in Abu Dhabi wishing to all attendees to reap the benefits from this workshop which aims to provide technical support to exporters and industrialists in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, thus contributing to consolidating its international status and reputation achieved by the national industry over the past years.

WAM/ES/AM