DUBAI - Dubai International Chamber, one of the three Chambers operating under Dubai Chamber, today launched "New Horizons", a new initiative to drive international expansion of its members to new markets.

The initiative allows companies to join roadshows to gain first-hand knowledge of establishing and doing business in select countries and priority markets.

The first in a series of "New Horizons" events will see a large delegation of Dubai business leaders heading to Central Asia between 14th-21st March to better understand and explore business opportunities in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

The delegation, headed by Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, will feature 26 Dubai-based companies representing 16 sectors. The delegates gathered today at Dubai Chambers headquarters for a pre-Trade Mission briefing, during which details of the trip and further information on the economic outlook of the three nations were revealed.

The initiative builds on the "In Focus" scheme. Both initiatives aim to drive members' international expansion while supporting Dubai's plan to increase the emirate's foreign trade to AED2 trillion by 2026. One of the Chamber's key objectives is to support 100 businesses to expand globally within the next two years.

'In Focus' events, held in Dubai, aim to connect Dubai businesses with public and private sector leaders of select countries to drive their interest in those regions as potential destinations for international business expansion and guide them through every stage of their international growth journey. The first In Focus event was held in December 2022 and put Central Asia market under the spotlight.

Lootah said that the upcoming trade mission will provide the participating business leaders from Dubai with insight, information, and guidance on exporting to or investing in Central Asia.

"We will soon embark on this exciting Trade Mission, including local expert talks, pre-arranged business matching activities, networking meetings and site visits to industrial and economic zones, and cultural and engagement activities. New Horizons to Central Asia will enable us all to engage in focused and meaningful discussions with decision-makers from the government and private sectors in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan," he added.

In the three nations, the largest contributors to GDP include manufacturing, trade, transport, agriculture and construction. UAE exports to these Central Asian nations include electronics, vehicles, machinery and tobacco. Central Asia is already an important market for Dubai: in 2021, Dubai's non-oil trade with the three countries reached US$2.4 billion.

The Trade Mission is a golden opportunity to engage public and private sector leaders to promote cross-border partnerships and grow mutual business. The eight-day roadshow takes in four cities: Tashkent, Uzbekistan; Astana and Almaty, Kazakhstan; and Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan.