Pakistan's exports to United Arab Emirates (UAE) doubled during the last five years from 727.49 million dollars in 2001-02 fiscal (July- June) to estimated 1.4 billion dollars in 2005-06 fiscal.
According to figures provided by the Pakistan Consulate in Dubai, total annual trade volume between the two countries also more than doubled in five years period from two billion dollars to 4.4 billion dollars.
The trade balance is in favour of the UAE, mainly due to import of petroleum, iron ore, plastic material, chemical products and semi-manufactured gold by Pakistan.
Pakistan's Commercial Counsellor Najeeb Abbasi said his country was able to double its exports after Pakistani businessmen created a foothold in the UAE, and added the exporters improved quality of their goods and increased participation in the UAE exhibitions.
The Pakistan government provided export incentives, resulting in aggressive marketing by traders and its embassy, while the World Trade Organisation (WTO) provided level field for textiles along with introduction of stiff reformative measures.
Abbasi said sharp rise in oil prices and higher imports of automobile machinery to meet demands of increased economic activity in Pakistan were reasons for increase in value of imports from the UAE.
Pakistan's major exports to the UAE include textiles, garments, tents, canvas, rice, leather, leather goods, footwear, surgical instruments, sports goods, carpets, rugs, engineering goods, jewellery, fish and fish preparations. Food and home textiles for hospitality were among new products.
He said under the co-operation agreement signed in September 2005 between Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Pakistan government, the Sharjah government had allocated 1,000 square metres of land to establish Pakistan Trade Centre in Sharjah.