Economic Zones World (EZW) through its flagship operation, Jafza (Jebel Ali Free Zone) has generated significant interest among Swedish companies in doing business in Dubai.
Their interest was manifested at the ‘Doing Business In Dubai’ business seminar recently held in Stockholm.
EZW officials including representatives from its group companies Jafza, TechnoPark – the group’s science and technology facilitator – and Gazeley, global provider of sustainable logistics and distribution solutions, met with over 80 Swedish companies at the business seminar organised by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) in association with the Swedish Trade Council.
The seminar was attended by senior government officials from both countries including Sheikha Najla Al Qasimi, UAE Ambassador in Sweden, and leading businessmen from Sweden and other Nordic countries. 
Dubai’s non-oil trade with Sweden including free zone and customs warehouse trade, rose by 38 per cent to Dh3.94billion ($1.07 billion) at the end of 2008 in contrast to Dh2.86 billion in 2007. Imports grew by 38 per cent, rising from Dh2.79 billion in 2007 to Dh3.86 billion in 2008 and exports by 22 per cent, from Dh 44 million in  2007 to Dh 53 million in 2008. The re-exports grew from Dh24.2 million in 2007 to Dh24.7 million in 2008. Over 60 per cent of any country’s exports into Dubai are meant to serve the requirements of the regional markets.
Commenting on the strong growth in trade, Ibrahim Al Janahi, chief commercial officer, UAE region of the group, said that both Dubai and Sweden had witnessed increasing bilateral trade over the last few years and he expected commercial cooperation to further strengthen in the future.
“Sweden is an export-oriented market economy with very strong telecommunications, automotive and pharmaceutical industries among  others. A number of Swedish companies have established themselves in the UAE in the past decade to serve the GCC and the other Middle Eastern markets and Jafza alone is home to over 20 leading Swedish companies. Most recently Jafza welcomed Scania to its business community. In general, Nordic companies make extremely reliable and attractive trade partners.”  
Lena Skogström Ericson, director of DTCM in the Nordic countries, was delighted over the number of participants who attended the seminar and showed a keen interest in the opportunities offered by Dubai’s free-market economy and Jafza.