The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development’s Industrial Development Bureau signed an agreement with the Abu Dhabi Exports Office to help local companies play a bigger role in international trade. IDB and Adex, a financing entity founded by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, will organise a series of workshops for industrial companies to raise awareness on the benefits of taking part in international trade exhibitions and conferences and promote connections with trade delegations from other countries, according to a statement from the department. The agreement was signed by Mohammed Munif Al Mansouri, executive director of IDB, and Saeed Al Dhaheri, acting director general of Adex. “It is our shared responsibility and commitment to help drive growth in the national export sector by providing solutions which could increase the competitive advantages of local companies, enhance their businesses and expand the scope of their activities geographically to enter new international markets,” Mr Al Dhaheri said. The workshops will also raise awareness about Adex's services. It is a body that was set up in 2019 to support the exports of Emirati companies and helped to finance Dh550 million ($150m) of export transactions conducted by them last year. The organisation is funded by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development. Abu Dhabi is diversifying its economy as it looks to support sustainable economic growth. “The growth of the export sector represents a key pillar of Added’s strategy to attain sustainable economic development in the post-Covid-19 era,” Rashed Abdul Karim Al Balooshi, undersecretary of the department, said.