Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Director of Dubai Customs, held a meeting in his office with Consul General of Italy Giovanni Favilli. They discussed ways to boost Dubai-Italy trade and economic ties further.

The meeting also served as a prelude to the forthcoming official visit that will take a high-level Customs delegation to Italy from September 23rd to 25th. The mission will comprise Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman of DP World and Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Cooperation, together with Director of Dubai Customs Ahmed Mahboob Musabih.

The three-day visit is highly anticipated to explore bilateral relations in ports and Customs industries as well as potentials for stronger mutual investments.
In the run-up to Dubai Expo 2020, the visit seeks to benefit from Italys experience as the country is winding up preparations to host World Expo 2015 in Milan. This presents a good opportunity for advancing mutual cooperation and sharing expertise, in light of the distinguished relations tying up Italy and the United Arab Emirates across all areas.
The Italian Consul General hailed Dubai Customs innovative business processes, calling it a model for accelerated procedures coupled with firm controls on goods and cargo. He also praised Dubais prestigious foothold on the global trade landscape. The emirate of Dubai is the main gateway of Italian products into the GCC, Middle East and Indian subcontinent markets, because of its advanced and modern infrastructure and border services in ports and airports, including a perfect array of Customs services and facilities, he said.
Giovanni Favilli as well expressed Italys satisfaction with the extraordinary efforts exerted by Dubai Customs in the protection of intellectual property rights and the fight against counterfeiting and piracy. "We are extremely happy with the constructive measures being taken to safeguard the rights of international trademark owners, including Italian brands in various sectors of production. Our cooperation with Dubai Customs in this regard has no limits, he stated. "Such IPR efforts have boosted the international communitys confidence in Dubai as a safe and favourable destination for investment.
On his part, Musabih welcomed the visit of Favilli and looked forward to their upcoming visit to Italy where they would meet with ports and customs officials to look into opportunities of strengthening joint cooperation, especially that Italy is one of Dubais major strategic trading partners within the European Union. Dubai Customs is fully supportive of the Italian business community based in Dubai, and provides every essential facilities for its growth and prosperity, in line with our Customs general approach to bolster foreign investment and maintain Dubais business appeal, he said.

The two sides agreed to organize a special meeting with the Italian business sector in Dubai, as part of Dubai Customs Irtibaat initiative a program that aims at nurturing closer ties with foreign businesses based in Dubai, listening to their concerns and suggestions for moving trade and investment forward.
Such regular Irtibaat sessions are held in the presence of diplomatic and consular missions to find solutions to any obstacles hindering foreign companies in Dubai, in coordination with DCs strategic government partners. An integrated package of public services are offered specifically to traders and investors, which indeed gives Dubai a real competitive advantage, said Ahmed Mahboob.