Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad), the new industrial and logistics zone in ethe UAE capital situated next to the Khalifa Port, has opened its new office in India at Mumbai.

The new office, which will be located in the Bandra Kurla Complex, a high end commercial district in the city, will be fully operational by the first quarter of 2014.

Announcing the launch at an exclusive Indian business leaders forum, Khaled Salmeen, the CEO and managing director of Kizad said the new office would help address the vast growing interest of investors from the subcontinent in the Abu Dhabi based industrial zone.

In his presentation Salmeen gave latest updates about the fast-developing industrial zone in which "nearly 40 national and international investors from a broad range of industry sectors have begun construction of their facilities."

He also stressed on Kizad's benefits to Indian investors, including its accessibility to global markets, ease of doing business as well as the low operating cost environment - all vital to industries looking to invest in the facility.

Kizad is fully integrated with Khalifa Port and investors benefit from the proximity of the only semi-automated port in the region, he added.

The forum, held at the Grand Hyatt in Mumbai, was attended by around 140 guests, including key Indian business and industry leaders, and the UAE's Vice Consul in Mumbai.

In the following panel discussion Indian industrialist Vijay Kalantri, the president of the All India Association of Industries, vice chairman of the World Trade Centre Mumbai and director of the World Trade Centres Association (WTCA) New York, shed light on the current shape of Indian investment in the UAE.

He also highlighted the benefits Indian businesses receive by being based in the UAE and dubbed the Kizad as an excellent investment opportunity.

Martijn Van De Linde, the CEO of Abu Dhabi Terminals pointed out that the Khalifa Port was providing unprecedented gateways to access Middle East and African markets.

"Over the past decades, the subcontinent has emerged as one of the top investors in the UAE, with a total investment of more than Dh190 billion ($51.7 billion), resulting in the set-up of over 26,500 companies to date," he added.

Commenting on the new India office, Alexander Haex, the VP (Business Development) Kizad, said: "The vast amount of requests from potential investors from India has made it necessary to plan for an onsite office, allowing us to provide a closer and more personal customer service."

"Investors moving to Kizad will not only have the UAE as a new market; they will access the whole Pan Arab region. The huge success of this conference confirms that our decision to launch our office in Mumbai is a good business decision," he added.

Emil Pellicer, the legal consul to ADPC, gave insights into the legal framework of Kizad with a particular focus on the Musataha Agreement, its terms and conditions. The up to 50 year bankable agreement has several salient features of interest to investors looking for long term security and stability.

On the Indian economic relationship, Salmeen said the UAE's historical ties with India and the existing business and commercial relationships between the two countries dictate a natural progression of India's industrial commitment to the UAE.

"There are several industry sectors between the two nations that can supplement and complement each other. We are looking forward to refine these sectors and provide the best possible platform to welcome Indian investors to Kizad," he added.-TradeArabia News Service