MoU to set up DMCC cotton trade corridor

(GETTY IMAGES)   

Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) announced yesterday it is proposing to build a cotton trade corridor through Dubai with the objective of establishing the emirate as a key link in the global cotton supply chain.

In this regard, DMCC has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Uzprommashimpeks, a trading company set up under Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and International Trade.

In 2007, global cotton production touched 26.74 million tonnes, with Uzbekistan being the second largest exporter after the United States.

The memorandum of understanding, which coincided with the recent visit to the UAE of Islam Karimov, the Uzbekistan President, was signed by Ahmed bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman, DMCC, and Mirzakhidov Khurshid, Chairman of the State Joint Stock Company, Uzprommashimpeks.

Elyor M Ganiev, the Uzbekistan Minister of Foreign Economic Relations and International Trade, who was present at the signing ceremony, said: “Uzbekistan and the UAE have a history of friendly relations, and we look forward to building on this through strengthening our economic partnerships.
 
We welcome this memorandum of understanding, which is one of many such steps being taken in this direction. In signing this memorandum with DMCC, Uzbekistan supports the status of Dubai as an international centre for trade.”

According to the terms of the memorandum of understanding, Uzbekistan’s cotton exports will be routed through the proposed cotton distribution hub in Dubai, for feeding Uzbek cotton into Asian markets.

As a significant trade partnership between Uzbekistan and Dubai, this memorandum of understanding will facilitate Uzbek cotton in gaining access to new markets in Asia.

The partnership also underlines DMCC’s efforts in creating industry specific infrastructure for facilitating physical trade in a wide range of soft commodities, including cotton.

Dr David Rutledge, Chief Executive Officer, DMCC, said: “After the success of Dubai Tea Trading Centre, we are now proposing a cotton distribution hub, with the objective of establishing Dubai as an important global centre for cotton trade.”