Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri chairs the Etihad Credit Insurance’s first Board of Directors meeting.

Staff Reporter, Gulf Today

Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI), the UAE Federal export credit company, held its first Board of Directors meeting in 2022, chaired by  Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Chairman of the Board, at the company’s branch in Dubai.

The meeting discussed key economic performance indicators in 2021, along with its achievements in accomplishing its targets and objectives, as well as the ECI’s plans and strategies for the next phase.

Al Marri began the meeting by expressing his thanks and appreciation to the former ECI Chairman  Mohamed Bin Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, and applauding the management of the UAE Federal export credit company for its substantial contributions to the UAE’s economy, exceptional business performance, active participation in government initiatives, and for its strong resolve to support UAE businesses and boost their competitiveness in regional and international markets.

“ECI has achieved record-high milestones in its efforts to accelerate national economic diversification, and boost UAE’s trade, exports, and investments globally. Despite the pandemic’s significant impact on the global economy, ECI has remained committed to its mission of enhancing the growth and competitiveness of UAE businesses by increasing its trade finance support,”Al Marri said.

His Excellency, who was appointed ECI Chairman under the new Board of Directors reformation approved by the UAE Cabinet in November 2021, was welcomed by the board.

During the meeting, the Board reviewed the company’s annual report and its activities and achievements in 2021. The report showed that ECI’s support to UAE’s exporters and SMEs has seen three-digit growth, with non-oil trade secured reaching Dhs11.4 billion, a 128 per cent growth compared to Dhs5 billion in 2020.

It also revealed that the export credit agency has issued 6,620 revolving credit limits in 2021, up 229 per cent from the 2,013 facilities it issued a year earlier; while the value of exposure it has underwritten has increased by 266 per cent to reach Dhs5.6 billion from Dhs1.53 billion during the same period.

ECI has protected and facilitated UAE’s non-oil exports to 92 countries (vs 75 in 2020) covering 18 sectors (vs 15 in 2020). Among the top destination countries for UAE’s exports and re-exports include: Saudi Arabia, Iraq, India, Oman, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, South Africa, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and France.

The Board also approved the confirmation of Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade as the Deputy Chairman of the Board, as well as the formation of the Executive Committee and the formation of the Audit and Risk Committee chaired by Sameh Al Qubaisi, General Manager of Economic Affairs, Department of Economic Development, Abu Dhabi.

Al Marri commended ECI for successfully completing its third year of operations in the UAE with an enhanced eco-system of partnerships that contribute to adding value to the UAE non-oil GDP, employment, and SMEs sector development. He also hailed the third consecutive AA- international rating confirmation of the Company rating from Fitch and the Permanent Membership of the ECI in the Berne Union, the leading global association for the export credit and investment insurance industry, last October.

He said: “Etihad Credit Insurance’s outstanding performance and continued success in leading the efforts to enhance UAE’s exports speeds up and sustains UAE’s economic diversification plans, in line with the vision and directives of our wise leadership, the new phase of UAE’s growth and the ‘Principles of the 50’.”

“ECI will continue to put priority on its mandate to enhance national exports and create promising growth opportunities for UAE businesses. With strategic partnerships to support the country’s non-oil exports, trade and investments, I am confident that ECI will continue to transform challenges into opportunities to boost the competitiveness of our national economy.”

Moreover, he praised ECI’s role in protecting SMEs from insolvencies by recovering more than Dhs85 million worth of non-payments in the last three years and liquidating claims worth Dhs7.9 million. By doing so, ECI has safeguarded jobs and SMEs employed in the supported businesses.

Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade said: “ECI’s success is largely due to its focused implementation of its 10-year roadmap. By securing UAE businesses’ liquidity, protecting their payments, and providing access to international markets, ECI has strongly contributed to the acceleration of the UAE’s recovery during the pandemic.”

In line with the directives of the ECI Board of Directors, the management of ECI has acted on addressing the challenges faced by exporters, particularly the increased costs of financing and higher rates of rejected applications.