Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Wednesday, August 24th 2011 [ME NewsWire]

As part of a high-level delegation led by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade, Jafza showcased its multiple, value-added business-friendly suite of offerings for the first time at the recently concluded Africa’s Big 7 Exhibition in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Showing keen interest in setting up their regional operations at the free zone, a large number of F&B traders and manufacturers visited Jafza stand at the biggest food, retail and fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) exhibition in the continent. Exhibitors included wholesalers, suppliers & manufacturers of products, technologies & equipment to the retail industry. Over 400 companies and 9,000 professionals participated in the event. 30% of participating companies were food manufacturers and 22% were exporters and distributors in the exhibition.

Ibrahim Mohamed Al Janahi, Deputy CEO, Jafza and CCO, EZW-UAE Region said: “Africa is among the world’s most rapidly growing economic regions and presents enormous potential for increased trade and investment. While Africa is gaining increased access to international capital, its home grown companies are experiencing commercial vibrancy and looking to expand their horizons in other developing markets. Jafza’s visit to Johannesburg highlighted opportunities and prospects in South Africa. Jafza will continue to target new companies in emerging markets in the continent and is committed to achieving the economic objectives of Dubai by offering world-class services and providing an ideal work environment that attracts foreign investments.”

Khadija Al Bastaki, Senior Regional Manager, Americas and Africa, EZW-Global Sales, representing Jafza at Africa’s Big 7, highlighted the Free Zone’s attractive value proposition, especially to its customer-centric services, world-class infrastructure facilities and unrivalled logistics matrices.

She said: “Our AfricaBig 7 participation was a success. We evoked keen interest among African business leaders in Dubai and Jafza’s unmatched infrastructure, facilities and value-added free zone advantages. The visit gave us an opportunity to generate strong leads and strengthen ties with various trade organizations representing South African businesses. Jafza looks forward to seeing more African companies joining the Free Zone in Dubai in the future and we will be working closely with the embassies and other trade departments to boost bilateral ties.”

Currently Jafza is home to 245 companies from Africa, which includes names like Akzo Nobel Powder Coatings, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Kampac Oil, Kenana Sugar among others.

Jafza held meetings with senior government and corporate officials from DTCM’s South Africa office, the Department of Trade & Industry of South Africa, the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce, the Department of Economic Development and Tourism of South Africa, the Embassy of Brazil (Trade section) and the UAE Embassy in South Africa.

Jafza also held a meeting with the Western Cape Investment and Trade Promotion Agency (WESGRO) to discuss the possibility of setting up a South African business incubator in Jafza.

Africa’s extensive oil and mineral resources, packaging industry and related technology, as well as finished products provide huge business opportunities. South Africa’s main exports to the Middle East include minerals, oils, distillation products, pearls, precious stones, metals including iron and steel and fruits and nuts. Its main imports include machinery, nuclear technology, boilers, fertilizers, plastics and organic chemicals.

Contacts

Adeti Changulani,

Hasaad Communications

+971 50 429 5576

adeti.changulani@hasaad.ae

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Wednesday, July 6th 2011 [ME NewsWire]

Dubai Trade, the premier trade facilitator under Dubai World last night (July 5) felicitated graduation for five batches of supply chain professionals who successfully completed its Certified Trade & Logistics Professional (CTLP) Programme, conducted in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport (CILT-UAE).

Certificates and citations were given away to more than 70 graduates during a ceremony attended by Mahmood Al Bastaki, Director, Dubai Trade, Alexander Borg, Regional Director & Coordinator, CILT, and trade representatives at the Emirates Aviation College.

The CTLP programme has been specially tailored by Dubai Trade and CILT to provide advanced training in logistics, transport, e-services and other associated areas with the aim of equipping supply chain professionals with the latest developments and concepts taking place in the local trading sector.

It is the region’s first comprehensive, vocational training programme and was initiated and developed by Dubai Trade and accredited by CILT. The certification encompasses all the key information needed for cross-border trading and logistics.

Since its inception in 2011, dozens of trade professionals including logistics & transportation providers, freight forwarders, Customs brokers, shipping agents, manufacturers, traders, marine service providers, government officials and academics have graduated from CTLP.

Mahmood Al Bastaki, Director, Dubai Trade, said:

“CTLP is a pragmatic, trade-centric programme designed to deliver tangible benefits to all the stakeholders of the supply chain industry. We congratulate all the successful graduates. With technology driving so much of what we do, it is imperative that every professional employee in the sector is equipped with the tools essential to conduct e-transactions efficiently and swiftly. At Dubai Trade we believe that our success depends on the strong partnership between us and our customers. We are happy to see that the CTLP programme, conducted in partnership with CILT-UAE, is yielding the desired results.”

Alexander Borg, Regional Director & Coordinator, CILT, said:

“Trade runs in the veins of Dubai and we are honoured to join hands with a pioneer like Dubai Trade to strengthen it. The work done by Dubai Trade has already created the right cyber environment for the trading community to conduct safe, secure and seamless transactions. The enthusiastic embrace of digital technology by the professionals further sharpens Dubai’s competitive edge and we believe Dubai Trade deserves credit for it.”

As part of its programme to reach out to customers, Dubai Trade has also provided free training to more than 2,230 individuals on various services offered on its portal, including ROSOOM, Mirsal-II, e-token and free zone administrative services.

Dubai Trade (www.dubaitrade.ae) offers its customers 758 e-services, creating a remarkably streamlined supply chain flow and cost effectiveness for users. Over the years it has consistently updated and expanded its portfolio of integrated services catering to the growing clientele of DP World , Economic Zones World, Dubai Customs and Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC).

Contacts

Media contact:

Khoder Makki,

Hasaad Communications

+971 50 5592268

Khoder.makki@hasaad.ae

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, – Tuesday, June 21st 2011 [ME NewsWire]

Dubai Trade, the premier trade facilitator under Dubai World, has added new strength to the e-services it provides to the supply chain sector on its portal www.dubaitrade.ae by adding a 7th bank to the e-payment gateway, Rosoom.

This was announced today (June 21) following the signing of a partnership agreement by Jamal Majid Bin Thaniah, Group CEO, Port & Free Zone World, and Chairman, Dubai Trade, and Arif Lakhani, Chief Executive Vice President, Habib Bank AG Zurich, in the presence of Mahmood Al Bastaki, Director, Dubai Trade, and other officials.

The agreement will allow Habib Bank AG Zurich account holders to make secure payments for all their trade transactions executed on www.dubaitrade.ae by using the bank’s direct debit facilities. Other key features available to customers on the Rosoom platform include dual sign-in, multiple payment methods and real-time tracking of their accounts.

Jamal Majid Bin Thaniah, Group CEO, Port & Free Zone World, and Chairman, Dubai Trade, said:

“Taking on the responsibility of facilitating the supply chain operations in Dubai is no small challenge. Since its inception, Dubai Trade has played this role admirably and in the process has promoted trade, the most consistent frontline driver of the local economy. We welcome Habib Bank AG Zurich to the growing family of this trade facilitator and hope Dubai Trade’s customers will benefit from this partnership.”

Mahmood Al Bastaki, Director, Dubai Trade, said:

“It is a unique honour for Dubai Trade to have Habib Bank AG Zurich as a partner as we seek to seamlessly integrate our online services, which are inspired by the goals and objectives of the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015. With the addition of a seventh major bank to our Rosoom e-payment gateway, we are confident that our vast community of customers will find their Dubai Trade experience enhanced to new levels.”

Arif Lakhani, Chief Executive Vice President, Habib Bank AG Zurich, said:

“Habib Bank AG Zurich has a long track record of serving Dubai and its trading sector. We have grown with this great nation and are proud of our presence here. Dubai Trade’s e-transaction services are a boon to local traders and we are privileged to play our role in its efforts through this partnership.”

By integrating the online services of DP World, Jafza and Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), Dubai Trade provides importers, exporters, freight forwarders, clearing agents and hauliers a single window for all trade related transactions.

-ENDS

Contacts

Hasaad Communications

Khoder Makki,

+971 50 5592268

A UAE-driven initiative to combat marine piracy has attracted widespread interest and enthusiasm from governments, industry and experts on maritime issues and international law.

Several foreign ministers from around the world, CEOs from the world’s top shipping lines and a wide range of experts will participate in the event jointly organised by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and global port operator DP World in Dubai on April 18-19.

A website for the conference – www.Counterpiracy.ae- has been launched to enable invited participants to register. The website also hosts a number of papers designed to stimulate discussion and generate policy ideas, which will be published alongside the event. The papers reflect cutting-edge academic and expert thought on global counter-piracy.

In 2011, piracy in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean threatens to become even more threatening than previous years, with a greater frequency of attacks over a wider range than in previous years.

The UAE initiative has therefore attracted significant global attention, at a time when all stakeholders recognise the need for a coordinated and sustained effort by governments, security forces and industry to address the issue in its entirety. The UAE’s position as a global hub for trade and commerce together with its significant regional and international partnerships are expected to make the event a key platform for the coordination of the urgent international response to end the threat piracy presents to global peace and security.

Parallel to the main conference, the UAE and the United Nations will hold a fundraising event in support of the Trust Fund to Support Initiatives of States Countering Piracy off the Coast of Somalia. The aim of the fundraiser is to attract new and traditional donors to the Fund, which was established in January 2010 by the UN Secretary-General at the request of the international Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia. The Trust Fund has proved to be an efficient instrument for supporting counter piracy initiatives and a unique multilateral vehicle to fund land-based counter piracy projects.

This fundraiser is an opportunity for participants to translate regional and global concern into action. The co-hosts hope to forge new partnerships between governments and industry, between “North” and “South”, and between the regions and countries affected by piracy off the coast of Somalia resulting in substantial contributions to the UN Trust Fund from Government and industry participants in the conference.

An official source at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has indicated that the UAE will make a significant contribution to the UN Trust Fund at the conference. The contribution will reflect the importance the UAE attaches to this issue, underlining its ongoing commitment to the international efforts in the field of counter-piracy.

In the first two months of 2011, despite a heightened level of international response, at least 80 commercial cargo ships came under attack in the Gulf of Aden alone – with 19 vessels hijacked. Some 40 ships are currently estimated to be under pirate control, together with 800 mariners held captive, many in appalling conditions. In addition to the devastating human cost of piracy, the financial cost to global trade is also huge, with estimates as high as US$12 billion a year.

Contacts

UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Khaled Al Dhaheri

Government Communications & Media Department

Tel: 02-2222000

k_saeed@mofa.gov.ae

www.mofa.gov.ae

Natasha Bukhari

Global Corporate Communications Manager

DP World

Tel: +97156 6821699

Natasha.Bukhari@dpworld.com

Sanaa Maadad

Director, Media

Hasaad Communications

Tel: +97150 5522610

sana@hasaad.ae

Held under the theme “Investment Horizons & the Gulf Common Market within the Global Financial Crisis,” the latest round started yesterday (Monday, April 27, 2009) and ends today (Tuesday, April 28, 2009) at the Riyadh International Exhibition Center, KSA and the Kingdom Hall of the Four Seasons Hotel. The 2009 edition envisions further diversification of the region’s economic structure through strategic investments. In his speech, H.E. Al Saleh proposed strategies that the Gulf could take to minimize the effects of the crisis and capitalize on current opportunities.

H.E. Al Saleh said: “One important aspect that has helped the Gulf avoid most of the negative effects of the crisis is the active commercial relations among its members. In 2007, trade within the region amounted to AED 40.4 billion, representing a growth rate of 12 per cent. Most of the Gulf’s countries rank among the top 10 trading partners of the UAE. Our volume of trade with Arab countries rose to AED 32.3 billion in 2007, representing a solid 13 per cent growth.”

“There are several steps we can take as a region to combat the present and future effects of a crisis; we could establish a common Gulf mechanism for handling such events, particularly an early warning system for the trade sector. We could manage our industries to complement each other, and encourage diversification so that we can reduce our dependence on products and services provided outside of the region. We can also establish centers that promote inter-Arab exports and focus on competitiveness particularly in non-traditional markets,” added H.E. Al Saleh.

In addition, the Director General called for more market openness, urged attendees to avoid protectionist policies, and encouraged improved relations with developing countries in general and Asian countries in particular. He said the crisis should be used as an opportunity to invest further in trade and commerce infrastructure. The MoFT official also referred to UAE policies that have helped it strengthen its regional and international commercial and economic presence.

“The UAE has drawn from lessons from the past to maintain a trade policy that focuses on diversity. We have been promoting non-oil exports to enhance our competitiveness and integrate more into the global market. Our success in this regard has been commended and certified by several prominent organizations such as the World Trade Organization. While we are also affected by the global crisis to a minimal degree, the Ministry and other key UAE organizations will continue to monitor the impact of the downturn and make the necessary adjustments,” concluded Al Saleh.                                     

H.E. Al Saleh further assured that the UAE Government has excellently handled the hardest phases of the financial crisis and has outlined the appropriate solutions for immediate implementation. He said that the desired results can be slowly seen in the way the business community has started to restore its confidence in the domestic markets. The Director General explained that the government was able to accomplish in just a short period of time what they expected to attain in two years.

The MoFT official expressed optimism and downplayed criticisms on the government’s   capabilities, saying that their achievements spoke for themselves. He affirmed the robustness of the Emirates’ financial establishments, pointing out the absence of any collapse or bankruptcy in the sector and the majority share of local money in bank deposits. He added that the government has pledged to provide guarantees on deposits.  H.E. emphasized that the government remains committed to completing ongoing infrastructural projects and that additional developments would be announced despite the global economic recessions. He finally noted the increase in the 2009 federal budget.

Investment Horizons 2009 partners include the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, the Federation of GCC Chambers, the Council of  Saudi Chambers, the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority, and the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The forum will discuss the challenges posed by the crisis on Gulf investments as well as their recommended solutions; the role of Sovereign Wealth Funds; the status of Gulf baking services amidst the crisis; and the future of Islamic banking. The event will also analyze Gulf stock markets, the growth rates of the region’s economies, and the significance of both the Gulf Common Market and united GCC currency.