Jebel Ali Free Zone Jafza the flagship free zone entity of Dubai recently
organised a forum for its customers from the logistics sector at the
Technopark Complex. The forum was attended by senior officials from leading
companies in this sector Jafza management and Free Zone partner entities.
Logistics is one of the most important industries in Jafza due to its
strategic location between the Jebel Ali Port and Al Maktoum International
Airport. Jafza is home to 294 companies from 28 countries that mainly reach
the Middle East and Africa region West Asia CIS and Indian Subcontinent.
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem Chairman of DP World and Chairman of Ports Customs
and Free Zone Corporation PCFC stressed the advantages of Jafza as an ideal
platform for the logistics sector.
Bin Sulayem said "The transport and logistics sector in the UAE is supported
by its strategic location infrastructure of global standards and the absence
of bureaucratic procedures. These factors have played a crucial role in the
development of this sector. Mega events such as the Expo Dubai 2020 and the
World Cup in Qatar too will present tremendous opportunities for the sector.
"The planned railway linking the GCC networks is also expected to add a new
dimension to regional transport network. This will have a strong impact on
the existing players in the logistics sector."
Bin Sulayem highlighted that PCFC aims to increase its logistics capacity
over the next few years to play a leading role in terms of facilitating
international trade. Through the development of ports and facilities PCFC
will be suited to accommodate the projected rise driven by industrial and
commercial activities growing retail tourism and hospitality sectors.
He said "The logistics industry is rich with new opportunities and a
promising future in the long-term due to the increasing intra-regional trade
and the spread of e-commerce. We attribute this to the incentives and
services that Jafza provides most notably the Logistics Corridor which links
sea land and air. The corridor links Jafza with Jebel Ali Port and Al
Maktoum International Airport thus supporting companies in shipping goods
between the port and the airport in record time. This is a vital element in
the promotion of the non-oil trade of Dubai and raising the emirate's
logistics efficiency by four times. This is ably backed by our e-services
'Dubai Trade' that serves as a platform for the online services of our
stakeholders and provides a streamlined flow of services designed around
customer needs and targets at customer satisfaction.
Speaking as the key note address during the customer forum on the sector's
growth in the Free Zone Ibrahim Mohammed AlJanahi Deputy Chief Executive
Officer of Jafza and Chief Commercial Officer EZW said "The logistics sector
in Jafza posted 2.2 million metric tonnes (MT) trade volume n Jafza in 2014
as against 1.9 million MT in 2013. Multinational companies are selecting
Jafza as home for their regional operations."
Mr. Phil Showering Chief Operating Officer for Mohebi Logistics one of the
leading logistics service providers headquartered in Jafza said "Due to
strong consumer demand in the UAE's home market and a growing requirement
from the US and European brands to enter the UAE as part of our growth
strategy we have increased our capacity for retail logistics and services to
the FMCG temperature controlled market by over 40% in 2014."
He added "Dubai and Jebel Ali Port continue to consolidate their positions
as the premier first port of entry to the GCC. The interconnectivity with
Saudi Arabia the largest market with ease of online customs processing and
competitive pricing with high frequency sea and air services make Jafza the
natural hub."
The forum discussed the means available to facilitate the practice of
business operations for companies operating in the Jebel Ali Free Zone
including giving more simplicity and providing an ideal environment for the
management of operations. Jafza officials also briefed clients on the
various initiatives taken by the Free Zone in this regard during the current
year. The highlights of the year have been the re-launch of the Jafza mobile
app providing commercial and administrative services from anywhere and the
launch of the 'Jafza Community portal' a web portal hosted by Jafza for
customers to develop new partnerships with each other and build a network of
relationships within the free zone.
The forum was attended by the elite of the leading companies in the market
such as CPL Logistics ATC Shipping GAC Logistics Palmon and Landmark along
with a number of senior management of Jafza including Talal Al Hashimi Chief
Operations Officer of EZW and representatives of DP World Dubai Customs
Dubai Chamber Trakhees Dubai Exports the Port and Free Zone Security and a
number of Jafza strategic partners who answered all the customer queries.
The forum concluded with a consensus on the need for cooperation between the
public and private sectors and companies of all sizes to achieve double
digit growth of the sector in order to meet the expected demand for
logistics services including opening the door to other opportunities in the
region.
The forum is part of Jafza's initiative to promote effective communication
between industry leaders and the free zone to explore business and
investment opportunities for the advancement of the sector at the local and
regional levels. The forum also provides an opportunity for the management
of Jafza and customers to engage in a comprehensive dialogue to find optimum
appropriate solutions to take advantage of emerging opportunities and ways
to promote growth in the concerned industry sectors in addition to
discussing and exchanging experiences on best international practices.
