Al Barakah Dates to drive India expansion with Dubai Industrial City factory

PHOTO

UAE - Al Barakah Dates, a market leading dates processor, has announced plans to expand its presence in India exporting over 30,000 tonnes of bulk raw material from its factory in Dubai Industrial City (DIC).

The joint venture with India-based leading food processing firm Candor Foods Pvt Ltd was announced at a signing ceremony at Gulfood 2023. It comes on the back of the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) announced in May 2022 to enable greater market access through preferential tariff rates and benefits.

Al Barakah Dates factory in DIC is the world’s largest privately-owned dates factory. It is designed to process over 100,000 tonnes of dates and dates products annually – equivalent to almost half of the UAE’s entire domestic harvest. The joint venture will employ the factory’s extended production capabilities and DIC’s strategic connectivity via air, sea, road and soon Etihad Rail, to meet the demands of one of the world’s biggest consumer markets.

Equal contributor

Speaking on behalf of DIC, Saud Abu Alshawareb, Executive Vice President of Industrial Leasing – TECOM Group, said: “The UAE and India’s trade history is coming full circle. The UAE is now an equal contributor to a long-standing exchange of ideas, crafts, cuisine and culture. CEPA provides a mutually beneficial corridor for UAE-based manufacturers like Al Barakah Dates to export to a large and powerful consumer market.

“They are a formidable UAE-made brand, and one of our strategic partners. We are thrilled to see their factory and connectivity in Dubai Industrial City enable global expansion – it’s a great step to drive up trade and investment, in line with the Dubai Economic Agenda and ‘Make it in the Emirates’.”

Yousuf Saleem, Managing Director at Al Barakah Dates Factory, said: “This joint venture with Candor Foods gives us a solid foothold to develop the Al Barakah Dates brand in the Indian market and promote UAE dates and ingredients. The potential of the Indian market is immense, and our state-of-the-art factory in Dubai Industrial City is well-equipped to cater to this high demand with its impressive capacity and capability."

Growing rapidly

Yash Gawdi, Managing Director at Candor Foods, said: “The dates market in India has been growing rapidly in the recent years, driven by increasing consumer demand for healthy and natural sweeteners. The joint venture with Al Barakah Dates Factory will help create a reliable and sustainable supply dates and date ingredients to India.

“Al Barakah Dates has a proven track record in the dates business and we look forward to combining our expertise to create a sustainable and socially responsible business that benefits all stakeholders including farmers and consumers. CEPA has opened new opportunities and a favourable environment for our joint venture to achieve its full potential.”

The joint venture underscores UAE’s growing significance as a prominent manufacturing hub, a priority of Operation 300bn. The industrial strategy aims to develop the UAE’s industrial sector and enhance its role in stimulating the national economy by promoting localised production and promotion of exports to global markets.

As the largest industrial hub in the region, DIC is a key proponent of Operation 300bn. It offers businesses integrated solutions, fully equipped infrastructure – including industrial land, warehouses and workers accommodations, and an extension transportation networks to access global markets.

DIC is part of TECOM Group’s portfolio of business districts that includes Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City, Dubai Production City, Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai International Academic City, Dubai Design District (d3) and Dubai Science Park.