The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council released a new report on the latest developments in the U.A.E.'s manufacturing sector at a high-profile event in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, 28 January. Eng. Jamal Salem Al Dhaheri, CEO of SENAAT, and Badr Al-Olama, the Head of the Aerospace Business Unit at Mubadala Investment Company, provided keynote remarks at this exclusive business roundtable luncheon.

Brazilian textile and clothing exports to the Arab world increased 87.5 per cent in January and February this year compared to the same period last year. The increment was almost exclusively a result of synthetic fabric and sisal rope for use in ships and rigs. Exports of beachwear, textile yarns and intimate wear also went up in the first two months of the year.

Jordan’s clothing sector has suffered a major drop in purchasing power, exports and imports. Seasonal sales and offers are not helping traders recover from the financial crisis. Sales have fallen on an average 40 per cent in markets such as Jabal Al Hussein, 50 per cent in malls and 60 per cent in the governorates.

A robust print and packaging sector in the Middle East will see the market value reach 24 billion USD in 2017, according to Smithers Pira's The Future of Global Printing to 2020 report.