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UAE Freezones Biz News Updates
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Jafza Customer Forum once again stresses on comprehensive dialogue to
achieve growth
 Discusses
ways to capitalise on the emerging opportunities
Jebel Ali Free Zone ( Jafza ), the flagship trade and logistics hub
of Economic Zones World , has held its first customer forum of 2014 at the
Address Hotel in Dubai Marina earlier this week to highlight upcoming
massive business opportunities and discuss how Jafza and Jafza customers can
work together to make the most of the possibilities the changing market
landscape offers in the UAE and the wider Middle East region.
The customer forums were initiated by Jafza to bring together the leading
industry players, Jafzamanagement and other stakeholders including partners
and industry specialists to collectively address key issues and have an open
and constructive dialogue on how to collaborate to enhance combined
competitiveness to capitalize on the emerging opportunities and meet market
challenges efficiently and effectively. The forum focused on the existing
opportunities generated by huge investments planned in the region on
developing economic infrastructure, which got further boost by the UAE's
winning the right to host Expo 2020 in Dubai.
Ibrahim Mohammed Al Janahi, Deputy CEO and Chief Commercial Officer of Jafza ,
in his welcome speech said: "The customer forums provide us a platform to
discuss, analyse and find a way forward to capitalize on the emerging
opportunities in the constantly changing market landscape in the region. An
estimated USD 4.2 trillion will be invested in construction projects across
the Middle East region in the next ten years, with the United Arab Emirates
(UAE) representing the largest slice at USD 698 billion. At present,
construction projects worth more than USD 1 trillion are underway in the
UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar alone.
"The huge investments on building economic and social infrastructure in the
region produce massive opportunities not only in the construction and other
infrastructure development related economic activities but all other sectors
which receive boost from the consequent increase in consumer spending.
"World Expo 2020 in Dubai will provide further boost to developmental
activities in the UAE and the region. This offers huge opportunities to Jafza customers
which must be taken full advantage of. Through today's forum we want to
discuss ways to achieve just this."
Aljanahi in his brief speech welcomed Hind Al Shamsi, spokesperson of Expo
2020 who was invited to give a brief overview about the master plan of the
third largest global non-commercial event, following the Olympic Games and
the FIFA World Cup.
Senior Jafza officials including Talal Al Hashimi, Chief Operation Officer,
in the open discussion, briefed industry gathering on several initiatives
the Free Zone has taken to enhance its infrastructure and facilities such as
the development of a number of entry and exit gates for light and heavy
vehicles in Jafza South, expansion of Gate 4 in Jafza North from 5 to 16
tracks, the opening of a new bridge connecting North and South, the opening
of new Medical Centre and a new service centre in JafzaSouth to process DHA
and EIDA applications. They also highlighted the Free Zone's iconic Jafza One
complex which offers over 100,000 square metre of prime office space, 16,000
square metre convention centre, 600-seat auditorium and 322-room four star
hotel.
Jafza officials, during the second part of open discussion, briefed audience
of the Free Zone's new strategic initiatives such as the the launch of the
world's first purpose built smart retail hub named "matajircom" and
announcement of the EZW plan to develop two world-class Halal Zones,
specifically designed to cater to the regional and international Halal
Product markets.
Speaking about "matajircom" Aljanahi said: "Through this inclusive
initiative, EZW , in collaboration with Dubai Customs, will put in place an
eco-system that brings all players in "e" domain to partner and collaborate
with each other in a synergetic and rewarding experience enabling a customer
initiate online trade with utmost precision."
EZW plans to develop Halal Zones as all-inclusive hubs, supported with
world-class infrastructure, perfectly suited to attract leading enterprises
in the entire gamut of halal industry.
EZW will collaborate and attract organisations, associations, accreditation
bodies, R&D, as well as advisory firms to support the entire halal value
chain right from R&D, product development to sourcing, production,
logistics, sales and marketing.
"We plan to promote the Halal Standards globally, which are being evolved
through the efforts of Emirates Authority for Standardization & Metrology
and Dubai Accreditation Department, to attract enterprises within the Halal
industry from across the world" said Aljanahi talking about the upcoming
Halal Zones.
Jafza officials also briefed the audience on its recent move under which it
created a platform enablingJafza -registered companies to raise capital
through the equity market by listing on NASDAQ Dubai.
Christopher Flinos from C.H. Sterling, a leading financial consultant,
speaking at the event talked about various debt funding and equity funding
options that are available to Jafza customers.
The Forum was attended by leading industry players in Jafza from diverse
sectors such as Al Ghurair Foods, Nestle, Lals International, Giordano,
Prada, Beiersdorf, Agility, Aramex, and CEVA among others.
Senior Jafza officials and partners including Dubai Customs, DP World,
Trakhees, Dubai Trade, and Dubai Chamber addressed customer queries and
issues to further enhance customers' operational efficiencies at the Free
Zone.
May 01 2014 |
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Courtesy Zawya
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