DP World UAE Region

DP World and China’s Zhidi Company ink agreement to unlock logistics potential

The strategic MoU signed between the two companies will enable both entities to deliver and facilitate full-process logistics services.

DP World, UAE Region and Zhejiang Zhidi Holding (ZZH or Zhidi Company) of China will jointly explore the establishment of a sophisticated next-generation logistics hub to meet the rising demand for conventional and e-commerce services in Dubai.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two sides states that the intent is to create a platform for the Zhidi Company shareholders that will deliver efficient, full-process logistics services, positioning Dubai as a global e commerce hub.

The MoU was signed by Abdulla Bin Damithan, Chief Commercial Officer, DP World, UAE Region, and Wuwei, Chairman of Zhidi Company, in the presence of Zhidi Company shareholders and senior officials from both sides.

“We are greatly honoured to sign this MoU with Zhidi Company. For close to 50 years, DP World has served as a frontline economic growth engine of the UAE and as a global trade enabler. This MoU is another step towards cementing our relationship with China designed to build a better future for all,” commented Mohammed Al Muallem, CEO and Managing Director, DP World, UAE Region and CEO, JAFZA.

Mutual cooperation

“We hope to identify and determine the specific scope of the cooperation and contribute our knowledge, expertise and strength to the economies of Zhejiang province and Dubai,” stated Wu Wei, Chairman, Zhidi Company.

The MoU will be executed in stages and once the initial base stages are completed, it will explore more possibilities for cooperation, including logistics business closely related to e-commerce.

Progressive province

Zhidi Company is a conglomerate of well-known enterprises in China’s eastern coastal Zhejiang Province, with significant advantages in port operations, logistic services, e-commerce, renewable resources and commodity trade and have close business contacts and solid cooperation with Dubai.

The shareholders of Zhidi Company are also main participants of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Dubai Station, the giant global economic project in which the UAE is a key partner.

Another expanse that will be promoted through this initiative is communication and exchange-related activities between Dubai and Zhejiang Province, enabling more bilateral investments and trade. n

DP World, UAE Region to host Breakbulk Middle East 2020

DP World, UAE Region will once again embrace the role of the Host Port for the 5th edition of Breakbulk Middle East (BBME), the largest project cargo and breakbulk event in the GCC.

DP World, UAE Region will occupy the post for the second consecutive year, effectively reinforcing BBME’s growing regional presence and its contributions to the country’s economy.

The two-day conference and exhibition will be held under the patronage of HE Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, the UAE Minister of Infrastructure Development and the Chairman of the Federal Transport Authority (FTA) for Land and Maritime.

The event is set to take place from the 25th of February to the 26th of February 2020, at the Dubai World Trade Center in Dubai, UAE. As part of this strategic vision to build a diversified and sustainable UAE economy, leading maritime companies, both locally and internationally, play a critical role in achieving this objective. In this regard, DP World, UAE Region has successfully achieved tremendous progress by transferring its local expertise in managing ports and logistics to reach an international level. DP World, UAE Region works on developing the import and export cycle from raw material production centers to the arrival of goods to the end-user, given the rapid growth of trade and shipping business, specifically in the breakbulk sector.

“Breakbulk Middle East’s rising trajectory over the last half-decade is indicative of the immense impact it will continue to have in the coming years,” observed Mohammed Al Muallem, CEO & Managing Director of DP World, UAE Region.

In a strategic move, DP World, UAE Region and Dubai South signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enable its flagship Free Zone, Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) and Dubai South to facilitate the seamless entry and exit of goods between them and enhance services to their customers. The agreement was signed between HE Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman, Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South, and Mohammed Al Muallem, CEO & Managing Director of DP World, UAE Region, and CEO of JAFZA at the Dubai South headquarters in the presence of senior management executives and officials of both organizations.

“The signing of agreement with DP World is part of our proactive efforts to ensure more efficient operations and, thereby, smoother transport of goods between the Dubai South and JAFZA. This will provide great benefits, especially for companies and participants of the upcoming Expo 2020, which will require easy processing of their entry and exit between these free zones,” observed Al Zaffin.

Major step forward

“DP World, UAE Region and Dubai South have taken a major step towards further enhancing the logistics and supply chain efficiencies required to support the on-going work at Expo 2020 site,” explained Al Muallem.

As the Premier Global Trade Partner of Expo 2020, DP World’s flagship Jebel Ali Port is the principal gateway to Exporelated cargo. Thousands of companies using the port and operating out of Jafza and Dubai South will benefit immensely as a result of our cooperation.

The MoU explores various areas of cooperation between DP World, UAE Region and Dubai South aimed at enhancing the services for customers at the security gates by unifying policies and procedures between the two free zones. In addition to the supply chain route efficiencies, the two sides will also engage in an exchange of knowledge in leading industry practices that would further enhance the management of trade flows between Jafza and Dubai South.

The MoU in line with efforts to enhance support for Expo 2020 and further enhancing trade flows in Dubai leading free zones. DP World, UAE Region and Dubai South sign agreement to streamline movements of goods

Dubai South rising

Dubai South has been one of the fastest growing free zones and preferred trade gateway in the UAE, serving key regional markets including Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. The 145-square-kilometre free zone is the venue of Expo 2020 and is close to Dubai’s second state-of-the-art airport, the Al Maktoum International and one of the world’s busiest ports, Jebel Ali Port. Dubai South’s Logistics Corridor, a unique 200-sqkm custom bonded zone which connects air, land and sea, pioneering a new global standard for goods handling of within four hours from sea to air.

Holistic ecosystem

DP World, UAE Region is a key engine of economic growth for Dubai, contributing to over a third of the GDP (33.4 per cent). The holistic ecosystem it has created through Jebel Ali Port and Jafza offers an end-to-end logistics landscape unique to the region, reaching out to over 3.5 billion people in some of the most dynamic emerging economies in the world today. JAFZA is home to over 7,500 companies, while Jebel Ali Port handled 3.6 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent container unit) in Q3-2019.