THE Muslim world's boycott of Danish products, provoked by caricatures of the prophet Mohammed published in Denmark, cost the country's businesses some +euro+134 million ($267m), just-released statistics showed.
The boycott began on January 20 over cartoons published in September 2005 by the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten, and led Denmark's exports to fall by 15.5per cent between February and June, according to the national statistics institute.
Exports to Denmark's top trading partners in the Middle East were cut in half.
They totalled just over 5 billion Danish kroner ($1.34bn) as against six billion kroner for the same period in 2005.
``There is little doubt that this is a result of the caricatures crisis,'' the Ritzau news agency quoted head consultant Peter Thagesen of the country's industry federation, Dansk Industri, as saying.
``This is serious for the affected businesses,'' Thagesen added.
In particular, exports to Saudi Arabia, Denmark's number one client in the Muslim world, fell by 40per cent, while those to Iran, its third biggest Muslim market, fell by 47per cent.
Other countries who suddenly stopped importing Danish products included Libya (down 88per cent), Syria (41per cent), Sudan (55per cent) and Yemen (62per cent).
Food companies, especially those selling dairy products, such as Arla Foods, were the worst affected by the boycott, with their exports over the February to June period falling by 25.3per cent overall.
Exports of manufactured goods, less prominent on the consumer market, fell by 7.4per cent, the institute said.
The export statistics released on Friday do not tell the whole story of how much the boycott has cost Denmark, since they do not take into account service providers, transport companies, investments or goods produced locally by Danish firms, Dansk Industri noted.
The publication of the cartoons, first in Denmark and then elsewhere in Europe, led to a wave of protests around the Muslim world. AFP
it doesnt matter where they were responsible or not. the danish community supported the newspaper. look at the polls.
boycot served them right
Yeah, but that doesn't mean every single Dane supported the cartoons. Is it right to include the minority in a punishment meant for the majority? What about the Muslim business owners in Denmark, who may also have been hurt by the boycott?
it doesnt matter where they were responsible or not. the danish community supported the newspaper. look at the polls.
boycot served them right
So? Because you support things you should be punished?
Should the USA punish Muslims in the Unites States if they support Al-Queda? Or possibly, many Muslims cannot grasp the idea of "freedom of speech".
At least no one died in the Boycotts, unlike the riots. You have every right to boycott a country, but you don't have the right to damage property and kill in riots.
So? Because you support things you should be punished?
Supporting things that offend our core beliefs ..... of course!! Do you think Israel will trade with any country that denies the Holocaust?? Use common sense.
Should the USA punish Muslims in the Unites States if they support Al-Queda? Or possibly, many Muslims cannot grasp the idea of "freedom of speech".
Sure, but I dont think most do Many Westerners cannot grasp the idea of morals and repect.
At least no one died in the Boycotts, unlike the riots. You have every right to boycott a country, but you don't have the right to damage property and kill in riots.
Well, the Danish asked for it. Now they realized that they shouldnt play games.
Yeah, but that doesn't mean every single Dane supported the cartoons. Is it right to include the minority in a punishment meant for the majority? What about the Muslim business owners in Denmark, who may also have been hurt by the boycott?
Salaam,
As always the argument about the collective.
If the Denaish goverment had talked to the 11 ambassodors and the muslim in the nation,all this would not have happened.
They were all spurned,and thus the reaction..
Is it right for the danes to makes mockery of the religion?
If they were traumatised by sep 11,why then dont they just makes fun of Osama or any other man..why did they have to publicy humiliate the Prophet?
A concern that I have is look at the Danish companies that were affected.
Food companies, especially those selling dairy products, such as Arla Foods, were the worst affected by the boycott, with their exports over the February to June period falling by 25.3per cent overall
Keep in mind the Mid East Arabic nations have to import nearly all of their food. There is very little food produced in the Islamic Nations. This boycott may have a back side to it. True other countries will come in to fill the gap left open by Denmark. It will be interesting to see which countries now have an increased profit, thanks to the boycott. This gave a temporary non-competative market to other countries that previously could not compete with Denmark for the Mid-Eastern Market. Could be that there will now be companies that got their foot it the door and will effectively eliminate the Danish competition in the Mid=East
I think some of our Texas businesses are pleased with the Danish Boycott:
Texas exported $3.2 billion worth of goods to the Middle East last year, according to the Texas Department of Economic Development. Of Middle Eastern countries, Saudi Arabia received the lion's share of Texas exports, almost 29%.
Note: not the whole of Denmark was to blame for some simple cartoons.
I agree.
Oh well. What's done is done. I hope we don't punish another entire country for the actions of a few. I'm against anyone doing that as a general principle.
Keep in mind the Mid East Arabic nations have to import nearly all of their food. There is very little food produced in the Islamic Nations. This boycott may have a back side to it.
Thanks to sustained capital investment, infrastructure development, subsidies of inputs, and price supports, Syria has gone from a net importer of many agricultural products to an exporter of cotton, fruits, vegetables, and other foodstuffs. One of the prime reasons for this turnaround has been the government's investment in huge irrigation systems in northern and northeastern Syria, part of a plan to increase irrigated farmland by 38% over the next decade.
Of course, historically, Iraq was a great producer of food. It may have been the place where argriculture first began. A few decades ago, it gave out food aid. Now it is on its knees begging.
Maybe denmark should try to regain the Muslims "good side" ?
This boycott is similar to trade embargos and sanctions which are implemented to cripple many countries.
When ure compnay workers goes on strike to get what they want, are u not punishing ppl who buy ure products in addition to ure bosses? Is it not the same thing here?
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Many Westerners cannot grasp the idea of morals and repect.
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