Due to the world economic openness and the liberalization of trade from the barriers that were previously imposed upon it, especially after most countries joined the World trade organization (WTO), it became necessary for all to beneft from that openness and achieve as much as possible of financial gains through reaching new markets that was difficult to reach in the past because of the barriers like customs and technical barriers. This development in the concept of trade freedom and the exchange of commodities between countries doesn’t necessarily mean that there are no barriers at all which prevent the entry of these commodities and local products to other countries.

It means that manufacturers and service providers have to pay attention to the significance of keeping up with the latest requirements and international standards that qualify these products and services to vie their counterparts and attract consumers wherever they are.

We, in the UAE, are not far from the atmosphere of international competition and the entry of commodities and local products into new markets. Still, there’s a need to support and encourage production and to innovate new mechanisms and practices that go along with the latest requirements and international standards. Theses practices have to have deep impact in the long run on supporting and encouraging national industry and upgrading its competitiveness against similar products and services especially with the general openness that we witness in the economy.

Mohamed Salih Badri
Acting Director-General