Sheikh Humaid |
Not only production but also investment, the number of factories and the number of workers in the sector have grown considerably, thus aiding the country's economic diversification, the minister said.
The total value of industrial production jumped to Dh72.7 billion at the end of 2002 from Dh66.6 billion in 2000, for 4.5 per cent annual growth.
"This is a high percentage, given the country's economy. It is also in line with the local industrial development plans," the minister said.
Investment in manufacturing increased to Dh10.4 billion in 2002 from Dh9.6 billion in 2000, thus achieving growth of 4.1 per cent.
The investments in this sector accounted for 16.8 per cent in 2002 and 16 per cent in 2000 of the total development investment in the different sectors of the country.
"The ministry is considering conducting a comprehensive survey of the manufacturing sector in order to gain complete and accurate details of this important sector which is playing a big role in the economy," the minister said.
At the end of 2002, the number of factories totalled 2,509 compared to 2,153 in 2000, an increase of some 356.
Industrial activity, the report showed, is concentrated mainly in Dubai which is home to 923 factories comprising 37 per cent of the national total.
Sharjah comes next with 798 factories (32 per cent), followed by Ajman which has 360 (14 per cent) and Abu Dhabi 248 (10 per cent).
However, going by the nature of the project or industry and the value of production, the emirate of Abu Dhabi leads because most of its factories or industries are related to oil and natural gas and chemicals.
The manufacturing sector employs a large labour force, estimated at 262,000 workers at the end of 2002, compared to 226,000 in 2000, a growth of 7.7 per cent.
