THOUGH the manufacturing sector in the UAE has been flourishing, a lack of a common marketing platform and a uniform label has come in the way of promoting produced goods to wider target markets, organisers of a recently held exhibition say.

The inaugural Made In the UAE exhibition and conference held in December aimed to plug that gap through a dedicated showcase that would not only help better market all that is ‘Made in the UAE’ to domestic market but also increase their exposure several fold to regional and global markets.

It was held at Expo Centre Sharjah under the patronage of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. Inaugurating it was HH Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah.

The exhibition hosted nearly 150 exhibitors who displayed food and beverages; textiles and readymade garments; leather, wood, woodwork and furniture; paper and paper products; chemicals and chemical products; oil, rubber and plastic products; metal and non-metal raw materials; machinery and other manufacturing equipment; ceramics and tiles; cement and concrete and other building materials.

“The economic diversification programme launched by our leaders has given a big push to the manufacturing industry. While the goods have ready takers here, they are also exported, with Asia and Africa being the main recipients,” said Mohammed Sultan Bin Huwaidan, first vice chairman at the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) after the opening ceremony.

According to the UAE Ministry of Economy data, there were 5,201 industrial establishments in the UAE as of 2011 against 4,960 in 2010. The number of industrial units is expected to increase by 44 per cent to nearly 7,142 units by 2017, according to a forecast by Truth Economic Consultancy, a leading research and consultancy firm.

Considering that the country has abundant natural resources and the goods manufactured enjoy cost effectiveness and high quality, locally made products should have reached a wider international market than they do now, said Bin Huwaidan.

According to industry observers, the UAE is expected to continue its economic diversification programme through large-scale investments in the manufacturing sector that will cater to both local consumption and exports. World Expo 2020 is inspiring UAE leaders to help make the UAE a greater industrial force in the world.

“Recognising the importance of manufacturing to the UAE’s non-oil GDP, the Ministry of Economy, the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry came forward to hold the Made in the UAE exhibition, said Saif Mohammed Al Midfa.

“The UAE has long-term commitments to the development of its manufacturing sector as seen in the new free zones, import and export guidelines, streamlining and easing of procedures for establishing production units and the offering of a slew of incentives to SMEs keen to enter the sector,” added Al Midfa.

Held alongside the show was the UAE National Industry Future Conference 2013.