Chamber sees surge in exports to Central and Western Africa

The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry has revealed that members’ exports to Central Africa and Western Africa recorded a surge of 85 per cent and 57 per cent, respectively, in January 2021, compared to the same month in the previous year.

The total value of member companies’ exports targeting the African continent reached Dh2.9 billion during the same month, marking a 4.2 per cent year-on-year increase achieved despite Covid19-related economic headwinds. Information from the Chamber’s Certificates of Origin (COO) database shows that Africa’s share of the total declared value of Dubai Chamber members’ world exports was 18 per cent in January 2021, up from 16 per cent in the same month during the previous year.

Growing demand from Africa for UAE products and Dubai’s world-class logistics infrastructure were factors that drove export growth over the past 12 months. The figures revealed particularly strong demand for UAE exports in Central Africa and Western Africa, with these regions achieving 85 per cent and 57 per cent year-on-year growth respectively. Egypt represents the most important country in Northern Africa for Dubai Chamber members trading with Africa, accounting for 78 per cent of exports targeting this particular sub-region. Sudan is in second place with a share of 11 per cent and Algeria is in third with six per cent.

Libya and Morocco each accounted for a two per cent share, while Tunisia came in sixth with a share of one per cent. In terms of annual growth, Egypt and Sudan were in a leading position among Northern Africa countries.

—

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ehsan Mani’s demand for visa assurance for Pakistan players, media and fans for the T20 World Cup to be held in India between October-November has surprised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Speaking to ANI, a board official said the comments are ‘immature’ and also pointed that the Indian government has already made its policy clear when it comes to handing visas to players for international sporting events.

“It was surprising to read Ehsan Mani’s comments, especially in the background of the wonderful working relationship that he shares with Sourav Ganguly at the ICC. He is a gentleman and had in fact been a guide for Sourav during the pandemic along with Shashank (Manohar). One can’t help but think that it is very immature of Mani to give a statement like this,” the official said.

“It is almost as if he is either desperately looking for a way out of his team playing in the tournament or he is grandstanding for some constituency back home. If they want to make it a political issue, it is of course their own wish. They do know that a cricket board of a country has absolutely no locus standi to give any assurance on an issue, which is not in their purview and is firmly in the decision-making sphere of the government,” he added. —