Italy pinpoints Dubai World Central as Middle East export entry point
Increasing trade between Italy and the Middle East has prompted a high level delegation of Italian companies to visit major industry players in Dubai in a bid to boost the country’s exports to the region.
The delegation, comprising over 50 companies, was part of the SIA Guest Dubai, a visiting hospitality trade fair promoting Italian-made products and services at the Burj Al Arab, organized by Rimini Fiera, Italy’s leading international exhibition center.
A key meeting with senior executives of Dubai World Central (DWC) generated massive interest among the Italians in its unique business offering.
“DWC will eventually become a key entry point for Italian products, not only to the U.A.E. but to the region as a whole,” said Pierluigi Cassani, foreign project department manager at Rimini Fiera.
“The Middle East is known for its love of high quality, upscale offerings, something that is synonymous with Italian products, and Dubai World Central will be the perfect entry point into this rapidly expanding market.
“Italian exports to the region grew by over 28 percent last year amounting to U.S. $3.8 billion, and with similar trade visits, we expect that growth to continue in the next two-three years. Currently, the United Arab Emirates is Italy’s leading GCC trade partner.”
DWC presented extraordinary business opportunities through land sales and lease to companies interested in setting up partnerships with qualified players across all its components – Residential City, Commercial City, Golf Resort, Dubai Logistics City, Dubai World Central International Airport – the world’s biggest, and Aviation City.
Addressing the delegates, Khalid bin Hareb, CEO, real estate, Dubai World Central said: “Tax-free incentives, short sea-air transport lead times and 100 percent ownership are reasons enough to attract major Italian companies interested in entering the local marketplace with great initiatives being offered to investors.”
With the delegation including hotel contract trade professionals, Hareb also outlined the hospitality potential of DWC which will have an array of five and four star hotels, shopping malls, boutique villas, luxurious club houses and resorts within the next 10 years.
Abdulla Al Falasi, DWC’s director of marketing and corporate communications, spoke of how the Italian delegation’s visit mirrors that of several other delegations from Singapore, China, Japan, India, several European countries, Australia, trade organizations, consulates and airlines interested in the DWC value proposition and why they want to use Dubai as their supply chain hub.
“Dubai is an evolving city allowing for tremendous undertakings in terms of large scale projects such as Dubai World Central. The Italian delegation’s visit is evidence of international players wanting to be part of this unique scenario,” said said Al Falasi.
“With this visit, the Italian delegation has taken the first step in implementing an expansion of their hospitality products in the region, giving DWC and Dubai a resounding vote of confidence.”
