The 31st edition of the International Autumn Trade Fair 2016, IATF 16, concluded on Friday at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre with excellent results.

It was announced at the three-day show, which attracted thousands of visitors, that the UAE is ranked among the world's top 20 exporters, according to the World Trade Organisation, WTO, Report on International Trade Trends.

The exhibition, organised by Al Fajer Information and Services, has thus reinforced its position on the global consumer exhibitions map after 31 years of consistent growth.

The UAE remains one of the world’s top trading economies, ranking 20th globally and first in the Middle East and Africa in commodity exports. It is also placed 19th internationally in commodity imports and led the MENA region in overall commodity trade, with regional exports totaling US$265 billion to account for 1.6 percent of the worldwide total in 2015.

"According to the WTO report, the UAE had a 31.5 percent share of the Middle East’s total exports in 2015, compared to 28 percent in 2014, as well as 30.8 percent of the region’s total imports. In terms of service trade, the country ranked 20th globally and first in the Arab World with service imports worth $68 billion, representing 1.9 percent of the world total trade," said Satish Khanna, General Manager of Al Fajer Information and Services, organisers of the show.

"The International Autumn Trade Fair offered an ideal platform for all participants to take part in discussion sessions in order to promote the purchase/sell operations in consumer products sector. This has enriched the exhibition as one of the most important trade exhibitions in the region," Khanna added.