While the month of March registered the largest proportion in the volume of exports at more than $5 billion, January witnessed the lowest volume of $4.32 billion during the first half of 2010, indicated the statistics of the Dubai Chamber.

“The outcome from the first half of the current year is very encouraging as it proves to the world that Dubai’s business environment is as strong as ever and the emirate is a viable investment destination,” said Hamad Buamim, Director General, Dubai Chamber.

“Backed by the exceptional performance of export and re-export sector, this particular sector is the real driving force behind Dubai’s economic recovery,” he added.

July exports declined four percent to $4.6 billion from $4.9 billion in June due to summer that traditionally slows down the demand. However, the Chamber remained optimistic about demand build-up during Ramadan and a boost in the trade in the second half of the year.

According to the report, the number of Certificates of Origin (COs) issued by the Chamber to its members in the first half of the year registered a seven percent growth touching 318,557, compared to the 297,677 COs issued during the corresponding period in 2009.

The month of June alone saw the highest issuance of COs touching 57,306 while the month of January had 48,036 certificates of origin issued, the report added.

About 5,100 new members joined Dubai Chamber in the first half, an 18.9 percent increase from 4,289 during the same period last year.

The chamber, in a bid to in strengthen trade ties with the business community across the globe, received 71 international trade delegations comprising 511 businessmen in the first six months of the year.

Among others, delegations from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Austria, the Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Georgia, Ghana, India, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Mexico, Morocco, the Netherlands, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey, the US and UK visited the emirate in the first half.

“Dubai Chamber is doing everything within its means to serve the business community by enhancing their competitiveness in the global arena and has been diligently pursuing its mission of representing, supporting and protecting the interests of the business community in the emirate,” said Buamim.

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) and Latin America had remained the key focus of the chamber, which was exploring these markets for new investment opportunities in the first half, according to a chamber statement.

The Dubai Chamber was recently appointed by the UAE’s Federal Customs Authority and the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry as the national “guaranteeing and issuing agency” of the ATA Carnet system, which allows goods to be imported temporarily without payment of customs duties or taxes.