The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) has adopted a new research strategy. DCCI will provide members, local business community and all other relevant stakeholders with economic data and research reports to inform them about sector and market developments and recent trends, helping them take informed business decisions.
In order to formulate a research plan that meets these requirements, an information needs assessment survey amongst members and stakeholders has been conducted by the DCCI’s Data Management & Research Department. The goal of this survey is to identify the information needs of DCCI’s members and all relevant stakeholders including Business Groups, Foreign Trade Centers, Business Councils and Associations and Government Organizations.
Among the DCCI members, an internet survey was conducted amongst 13,000 private sector companies. Representatives of other organizations have been interviewed face to face.
The internet survey shows that 99 percent of the respondents are interested in using economic information but only 48 percent currently use such information. About 84 percent of the respondents experience difficulties in finding required information.
Difficulties encountered include the unavailability of the required data and research reports, and lack of information about existing information sources and the time it takes to find the information if available. Moreover, respondents are not very satisfied with the quality of information, scoring it a meager 2.9 on a scale ranging from 1 through 5. The new research strategy of DCCI is determined to bring structural changes in this respect in the coming months.
The new database will initially cover the manufacturing, trade, construction and services sectors and will be ready for use by the end of 2003. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
