Dubai's DTCM mounts major investment promotion drive in South Africa

Dubai's advantages as a regional base and a leading commercial centre will be the focus of a major investment promotion drive mounted by the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) with nine public sector organizations joining the department to attract more foreign inward investment into the emirate from South Africa.

The ten-strong Dubai public sector team led by the DTCM will target South African investors in three key cities including Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg from 16th to 18th September.

“Dubai has established itself as one of the most competitive economies in the region which in turn has facilitated us to continue to play an important role in the regional and international business,” said DTCM Director General, Khalid A. bin Sulayem.

He noted that the DTCM had been organizing similar investment promotion drives in key markets over the years to attract foreign investors as well as inform them about business opportunities in Dubai. 

“This drive in South Africa has been organized with a view to further promote inward investment and strengthen trade links with the Republic and update the business community about the commercial trends and the investment environment in Dubai,” observed Mr. bin Sulayem.

The investment promotion drive is designed to provide the co-participants with an opportunity to network with top ranking South African businessmen to meet and encourage them to do business with or through Dubai.

The Dubai team at the event will comprise DTCM officials as well as representatives from Dubai Development and Investment Authority, Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Dubai Department of Civil Aviation, Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority, Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority, Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, EMAAR and Emirates.

“Dubai has long been established as the premier regional hub, servicing the rest of the Arabian Peninsula and the Asian sub-continent beyond and we are now set to play an increasingly important role as the major business and financial link between East and West," said DTCM Manager Overseas Promotions, Ibrahim Ahli who will be representing the department at the event.

Mr. Ahli noted that Dubai’s success has been largely attributed to its ability to adjust to changing circumstances in its markets and the strongly pro-business attitude of the government, the entrepreneurial skills of the local population as well as the emergence of neighboring countries as major new markets.

Although South Africa is still a relatively new market for the emirate, total trade between the Republic and the emirate in 1999 amounted to more than AED 343 million.