ABU DHABI, 12 Sep, 05 (WAM) - Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry(DCCI) received an official invitation to attend the InformationTechnology World Summit Conference due to be held in the Tunisiancapital on November 16-18 under the supervision of the UnitedNations.

The invitation was delivered during the visit of a Tunisiantrade delegation to the DCCI on Sunday, presided overby Mohammed Al Sahrawi, Member of the Executive Office ofthe Tunisian Federation of Industry, Trade and Traditional Handicrafts,according to a press release.

Abdul Rahman Ghanem Al Mutaiwee, Director General of DCCI,received the invitation, with the presence of Mr. Sultan MajidLootah, Director of Business Promotion in the DCCI, and Mr. MohammedAli Al Hasni, Director of the Tunisian Trade Office in Dubai.

Al Mutaiwee welcomed the visiting Tunisian delegate and expressedthe DCCI's intention to attend the IT World Summit Conferencein Tunisia, stressing the Dubai Chamber's and the Dubai BusinessCommunity's keen interest to enhance the trade bilateral traderelations between Dubai and Tunisia.

"It is quite significant for the DCCI to take part in such importanteconomic conferences which are sponsored by a world organizationlike the United Nation due to the importance of this conferencein the topics and issues which will be considered and which areof great significance for the economic and commercial sectorsin the world in general, and in the Arab world in particular.

The DCCI's participation in this conference would be effectiveas we reflect the interests of the local business community andprivate sector in Dubai," said Al Mutaiwee.

Mohammed Al Sahrawi, Member of the Executive Office of theTunisian Federation of Industry, Trade and Traditional Handicrafts,highlighted the importance of the conference due to be held inTunisia in November as presidents of more than 30 countries andaround 17,000 businessmen, investors and engineers in differenteconomic sectors are expected to attend.

"We are very interested in stressing the attendance of the DCCIin this conference due to the active role which Dubai plays asan international and regional trade center, especially in re-exportbusiness. The conference would be a chance to meet with the headsof Arab chambers of commerce and other top officials from theArab League to exchange ideas and suggestions which help enhancecommerce and other economic sectors in the Arab World," saidAl Sahrawi.

He also discussed with the DCCI's Director General the possibilityof setting up a permanent center to promote the Tunisian productsin Dubai to enable the Tunisian trade companies enter the localmarkets.

Al Mutaiwee underlined the importance of having such a centerin a recognized location in Dubai city to be able to promoteTunisian products easily and effectively due to its role in introducingthe local business community to the high quality Tunisian productssuch as the famous Tunisian olive oil, leather products, dates,ready made garments, antiquities and traditional handicrafts.

"It is quite important for the Tunisian trade companies to participatein the specialized trade exhibitions being held in Dubai underthe patronage of the DCCI to help promote its products and arrangesome contracts with local importers, sign bargains and set upagencies for famous world trade brands benefiting from Tunisia'srecognized relations with the European Union," said Al Mutaiwee.

Dubai's total foreign non-oil trade with Tunisia has recordeda remarkable rise in 2003 compared to 2002. It surged to AED77.7 million in 2003 (US Dollar 21.1 million), compared to AED61.1 million in 2002 (US Dollar 16.6 million).

Dubai's total imports from Tunisian in 2003 reached AED 17.8million (US Dollar 4.8 million), whereas Dubai's total exportsto Tunisia in the same year hit AED 14.1 million (US Dollar 3.8million), while Dubai's total re-exports to Tunisia in 2003 reachedAED 45.8 million (US Dollar 12.4 million).