Jafza officials have called for the establishment of working groups representing the large industries based in the free zone to address operational issues and make strategic recommendations to boost growth.

They were participating in the recent Customer Strategic Forum, the third in a series of industry events initiated by Jafza to accelerate strategic communication with its key sectors. The latest forum was specifically aimed at customers in the automotive and auto spare parts industry in the free zone.

The first two forums were held for its clients in the logistics and the chemical, oil and gas sectors.

Talal Al Hashimi, managing director of Economic Zones World, UAE Region, participated in the forum along with senior officials and Jafza partners including Dubai Customs, DP World, Environment Health and Safety (EHS) Department, and Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry. They collectively addressed queries and suggestions to improve operations and free zone effectiveness.

High level industry representatives also attended the forum, including from Honda Gulf, Scania, Al Futtaim Logistics, Mitsubishi Motors, GM, Michelin, Daimler, Nissan, Ford, Caterpillar, Mobis and Hellmann Worldwide Logistics among others.

The automotive sector in Jafza comprises more than 500 companies, including those specialising in car products like tyres and tubes, workshop equipment, batteries, parts and systems, repair and maintenance and accessories.

Al Hashimi said: “This Strategic Forum gave us an opportunity to engage with the top players in the industry to address issues, find solutions and set a strategic direction for the future. We are also looking into establishing working groups for different industries in Jafza. Different companies in Jafza may have similar concerns and ideas, and it is important to give them a platform for proper expression of their views, especially those relevant to large parts of Jafza’s industrial community. The automotive industry is an important contributor and has registered a double-digit growth in trade in the first quarter of 2011, making us optimistic about the year ahead. We will continue to host similar events to boost the growth of the industry on a regular basis.”

Omar Bin Hendi, VP customer relations, Economic Zones World, led and moderated the discussions at the forum. He said: “The interactive session focused on market trends and business approaches that Jafza could adopt to help the automotive sector and the free zone grow together further. Issues pertaining to regulations, customs, licensing, storage and transportation, in addition to Jafza’s proposal for the establishment of working groups were discussed.” – TradeArabia News Service