Consul General of Canada visits Jafza

Dubai, UAE, September 17, 2016:    Ibrahim Mohamed Al Janahi, Deputy CEO and Chief Commercial Officer at Jafza received Emmanuel Kamareannakis, Consul General of Canada in Dubai at the Jebel Ali Free Zone in line with the Free Zone’s objectives to strengthen cooperation with foreign diplomatic missions in the country.

Al Janahi welcomed the Consul General, noting that the meeting is an opportunity to exchange views and opinions to enhance relations between the Canadian institutions & companies and Jafza to promote trade between the two sides and to identify investment opportunities in the free zone.

The two sides discussed the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to turn Dubai into an industrial and manufacturing hub of the region, in line with the Dubai Industrial Strategy. The plan is to move from the growth phase to the maturity level of industrial development; this including improving the economic systems through new policies.

Al Janahi said, “Trade between Jafza and Canada has increased over 10% to $338 million from the previous year; imports worth $312 million while exports and re-exports touched $26 million. In terms of the products, machinery, electrical and electronics equipment stood first followed by chemicals or allied industries and vehicles, aircraft and transport equipment.”

Al Janahi highlighted a 56% rise in the number of Canadian companies in Jafza over the past 5 years; from 76 companies in 2011 to 119 operating in various sectors, primarily equipment & machines, electronics & electrical, building materials, motor vehicles & spare parts, food & beverage, machinery & repairing.

In light of the growing interest among Canadian companies in Jafza, Al Janahi welcomed the companies to establish regional offices in Jafza with the readiness to provide all facilities to establish their presence in the region.

He added that Jafza has upgraded its infrastructure including the warehouses and showrooms suited to the needs of the companies while expediting the process of establishing companies that will enable them to start operations with ease.

The Consul General of Canada in Dubai commended Jafza for the crucial role in driving Dubai’s economy and attracting foreign investment through multinationals and small companies founding their regional offices in the Free Zone.

The two sides agreed to work in coordination to enhance trade relations especially in the field of innovation and technology, one the important areas of focus for Dubai.