Ahmed Bin Saeed: DAFZA is internationally recognized as a pioneering and premium freezoneUAE

UAE – April 1, 2015 – Dubai Airport Freezone Authority (DAFZA) recently welcomed the visit of a high-level delegation from Kerala, India. The delegation was headed by Oommen Chandy, Chief Minister of Government, Kerala State and accompanied by Kunhalikutty P. K., Kerala Minister for Industries and Information Technology and Yousuf Ali, Managing Director of Lulu Group. During the visit, both parties discussed various ways of opening new channels for the transfer of knowledge, experience, and best practices while also setting the initial framework for the establishment of a new freezone in Kochi, India.

H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman, DAFZA, stressed on the importance of strengthening the relationship between the two countries. He also expressed DAFZA’s commitment in maintaining fruitful communication ties that can help enhance the path of economic and trade cooperation between the UAE and India. His Highness also highlighted DAFZA’s leading position and its logistical and administrative excellence in the transfer of knowledge and the design of pioneering processes and models to manage free zones successfully.

Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni, Director General, DAFZA, welcomed the visiting officials from Kerala and discussed the freezone’s latest expansion initiatives, new projects and its current strategy of attracting more foreign investments through offering improved investment incentives, integrated infrastructure and compliance with international best practices and standards. Dr. Al Zarooni also underlined DAFZA’s commitment to leverage its logistics and administrative expertise in the efforts to build a new freezone in Kochi.

Al Zarooni stated: “We are pleased to have met with the Indian delegation from Kerala. The meeting is considered to be a strategic platform to discuss key topics of mutual interest, particularly across reinforcing cooperation to provide knowledge resources and expertise to develop a new freezone in Kochi based on DAFZA, which is considered to be one of the most advanced freezones in the world. Rest assured, we remain steadfast in the commitment to build robust relations with India’s business and investment community—reflecting on the strong historic and economic ties between the UAE and India.”

In response, the Indian delegation expressed their thanks for the warm reception received during their visit and praised DAFZA’s position as one of the region’s and the world’s premium freezones. The delegation further emphasized on the importance to consolidate ties between the two countries and stressed on the need to develop an effective and smooth exchange of information and experiences, especially across the efforts to establish a new freezone in Kochi, India, using DAFZA as its model.

Recent industry reports have revealed that Indian investments constitute 36 per cent of the investments of East Asian countries in the freezone. The Indian companies in DAFZA cover various industry verticals like trade, engineering, electronics and telecommunications sectors and include international companies such as Tata Motors, Killian Jewelry and Himalaya.