he first ever Dubai World Conference on Consumer Rights will be held at the World Trade Center in Dubai on April1-3,2013. The initiative has been organized by the Department of Economic Development in Dubai to share and learn from the best practices and their applications in the consumer rights protection. Experts from the Government, public and private sector, economists, academicians etc.

would discuss measures to enhance transparency and impartiality in the retail sector. Another attraction of the conference will be the Power Brands Exhibition where over 50 leading brands would showcase their best .It will also provide a platform to the consumers, investors and traders to ensure that all the voices are heard.

The Director General of Dubai Economic Development Department, Sami Al Qamzi said that the conference would bring together the views from various sectors and encourage best practices in commercial activities.

The mortal remains of the Indian fisherman killed in firing by a US Ship off the UAE Coast are being sent to his family in Trichy from Dubai today. Indian Ambassador to UAE MK Lokesh said the remains of Arumumugam Sekhar will be sent to Trichy airport as the family had requested for the same. It will be accompanied by one of his friends.

The incident took place around 30 miles away from Jebel Ali port near Dubai when a US refueling ship USNS Rappahannock fired at a fishing boat when it reportedly ignored warning to come close to the ship. There were four Indian and two Emirati nationals aboard and in the firing one Indian fisherman was killed and three others were injured who are recuperating at Sheikh Rashid hospital in Dubai.

The survivors said there was no warning from the captain of ship and they were fired upon suddenly. The US Government has expressed apology and said investigations are on. The UAE Government has registered a case of murder and Dubai police has transferred the case to public prosecution.

Meanwhile the body of the Indian fisherman killed in the firing by US Ship off the Dubai coast near Jebel Ali Port on Sunday has been recovered. The deceased has been identified as Sekhar son of Arumugam while the injured include Muthu Kannan, Pandusinathan and Munairaj all from Tamilnadu near Rameshwaram. The condition of the three injured Indian fishermen at the Sheikh Rashid Hospital in Dubai is reportedly stable. The officials of the Indian Consulate in Dubai met the injured at the hospital today.

Talking to All India Radio, the Indian Ambassador to UAE M.K.Lokesh said the Embassy is in touch with the UAE authorities and pursuing the case to bring the guilty to book. The UAE authorities have informed that a case has been registered against the US ship USNS Rappahannock and investigations are on. Mr. Lokesh told that the focus is on providing assistance to the family of the deceased and care of the three injured fishermen.

The Indian fisherman was killed while three others were injured earlier on Monday when a US navy refueling ship USNS Rappahannock fired at their small boat near Jebel Ali port in Dubai. US defence officials claimed that the boat was getting too close to the ship and ignored warnings not to approach the ship, and that sailors on board the American vessel feared it could pose a threat. A statement from the US Fifth Fleet, which is based in Bahrain said the crew had opened fire as a last resort.

India has asked for details of the firing incident and has directed Indian officials in UAE to look into the matter with utmost urgency. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin in New Delhi today said, the US ambassador to India, Nancy Powel called Foreign Secretry Ranjan Mathai to express regret. The Indian consulate in Dubai has begun a probe into the killing.

Meanwhile, the US has released a statement on the tragic incident saying that it had issued several warnings to the boat carrying the Indians before firing at them. As per the statement their warning were not heeded.
In Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, Karaiyur Fishermen Association President Malairajan said the fishermen were working for Dubai fishing companies on daily wage basis.

Lt Gred Raelson, a spokesman for US Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, said a security team aborad the USNS Rappahannock fired from a .50-calibre machinegun on the boat after it disregarded warnings and raced towards the ship.

India has emerged as the largest trading partner of Dubai in the first quarter of 2012-13. The latest data of Dubai foreign trade was released by the Dubai Customs, shows the trade volume in the first quarter between India and Dubai worth 13 billion US Dollars. India was number one exporting and re-exporting country with a volume worth 7 billion dollars.

In terms of imports, India came second at 6 billion dollars after China. The Director General of Dubai Customs, Ahmed Butti Ahmed said, Dubai’s oil foreign trade saw a significant growth of 6.6 per cent in the first quarter of 2012-13, reflecting the resilience and diversity of the economy.

A three day long Indian Property Show got underway at Dubai International Convention Center on Thursday.

Over 70 developers from different Delhi, Gurgaon, NOIDA, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Chennai, Cochin, Thiruvananthapuram etc are displaying over 300 real estate properties to attract the NRI investors. 

The Organizers of the show expect business worth Rs. 5 crore on an average during the show. 

They are trying to make the most out of the spurt in demand among the NRIs because of falling rupee by nearly 30 percent over the past 6 months. 

With the rupee touching 55 mark vis a vis Dollar, the real estate segment is being seen as a good investment opportunity among the NRI’ investors especially from the Gulf region.

The Union Minister of State for Tourism Sultan Ahamed has said centre is looking at the issue of recent hike in airfares at the Delhi International Airport. He told reporters in Dubai that the matter has been taken up with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Prime Minister’s Office.

The Minister told that even the domestic tourists are also suffering the pinch of the recent hike in airfares. The Minister said that the Government has taken up several measures to promote tourism in the country. 100 percent Foreign Direct Investment has been allowed in tourism and hotel industry and new tourism destinations have been identified keeping the domestic tourists in mind.

Responding to a question that the persons visiting the country on tourist visa have to wait for two months after their return for another visit, he said efforts are on to resolve the issue. Mr. Sultan Ahmad was talking to mediapersons after inaugurating the India Pavillion at Arabian Travel mart in Dubai.

The India Pavillion at the Arabian Travel market has been set up by the India, Tourism in Dubai to showcase the vast tourism potential of India. Around 50 participants representing the tourism diversity of Heritage, Nature, Culture and Wellness Tourism from India are taking part in the four day event.

The focus this year is on showcasing India as the tourist’s destination for luxury, wildlife and well ness or medical tourism. The Indian exhibitors include tour operators, travel agents, hotels, airlines, hospitality industry etc. State Tourism departments of J&K, and Kerala are also branding their tourism hotspots.

It is expected the meet will add on to the foreign tourist arrivals from the gulf countries and the West Asia region to India. In the year 2011-12 total number of foreign tourists arriving in India was 6.7 million and the Government has set a target of 10 million foreign tourist’s arrival over the next three years.