"Middle East Leads in Accelerating Air Freight Growth" - Khalifa Alzaffin
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), global air cargo traffic grew 5.7% in the first four months of 2006, with Middle East traffic leading in accelerating air freight growth. Freight traffic out of the Middle East surged 17.9% compared to the first four months of last year. The Dubai International Airport which has witnessed a consistent 20% growth in cargo traffic is leading the momentum and the DFC, located adjacent to the airport, could not have been better placed to serve the perishables cargo sector.
Mr. Khalifa S. AlZaffin, Director Engineering & Projects, Department of Civil Aviation responds to queries from the media
1. What are the key components of the Dubai Flower Centre?
A: The Dubai Flower Centre has specialised facilities in the main building including laboratories, quality control operations, customs inspection, break and build areas and specialised cool-storage chambers where companies can add-value or process their products for onward transfer. We are committed to maintaining the cool chain throughout the handling process. This is why we use the latest technology to ensure that the cool chain remains unbroken or distracted.
2. Will the DFC help the region's cargo sector with its state-of-the-art facilities?
A: The Dubai Flower Centre nurtures strategic connections between markets and regions with strong growth potential. Thus the centre enables tenants to capitalise on commercial opportunities created by a rapidly expanding cargo sector in the region.
By 2010 the Dubai International Airport's projected turnover will swell to more than three million tonnes. The freight capacity will be increased even further to a total of five million tonnes when the Cargo Mega Terminal is completed as part of the current development programme. Moreover, the growing network of GCC land-based express trucking and transportation services, door-to-door delivery operations and easy access to onward shipping via land, air or sea ensures freshness; quality and reliability are effortlessly maintained throughout the supply chain.
3. How do you ensure the DFC does not break the cool supply chain logistics?
A: We achieve this through a combination of dedicated processes which make the Dubai Flower Centre a unique facility that continues to set future-proof technical standards for the perishables industry. Refrigerated 'cool dollies' transfer pallets between DFC and aircraft, automated handling equipment moves perishable cargoes through X-ray to specially designed Electronic Transfer Vehicles, and on through sealed temperature controlled air-locks to the storage area. Thus the technologies used make sure efficient handling and economic viability are never compromised.
4. What are the significant benefits for industry partners who will set up their facilities at the DFC?
A: Dubai's liberal free market economy, enables the Dubai Flower Centre to provide clear-cut commercial benefits to businesses in the perishables industry. The benefits include among others: On-site logistics service providers, quality control facilities and customs inspection; Immediate connections to local markets in the GCC market; Excellent international connections via air, land and sea; and direct access to international traders and customers.
The Dubai Flower Centre is also a one-stop shop for local and international buyers, traders and exporters.
5. What are the solutions provided by in-house operations and third-party service providers at DFC?
A: The Dubai Flower Centre solutions provided by in-house operations and third-party service providers enable solutions to almost all cold chain logistics needs. These include Consolidation/repackaging for transshipment to worldwide destinations; Pre-assembly of product lines sourced from around the world and tailored to end markets; Fruit and vegetable pack house - professional packaging for direct sale and value added services e.g. bouquet making.
6. Which industries in the region do you think are the most served by the setting up of DFC?
A: The region has witnessed a surge in demand for perishables amongst property developers, hotels, supermarkets, florists, restaurants, wedding venues, events, festivals, conferences, medical facilities and related industries. Some of the industry sectors the Dubai Flower Centre is expected to serve include Growers and Producers Some Exporters; International, regional and local wholesalers; Perishables freight forwarders; Supermarket chains; Retailers such as florists and garden centres; hospitality industry and value added service providers.
7. Can you explain the unique process at the DFC that will completely maintain the cool chain?
A: The climate controlled zones at the Dubai Flower Centre provide optimal product temperatures to maximise shelf life and are monitored 24 hours a day. This combination of dedicated processes makes the centre a unique facility that continues to set future-proof technical standards for the perishables industry.
Refrigerated 'cool dollies' transfer pallets between DFC and aircraft, automated handling equipment moves perishable cargoes through X-ray to specially designed Electronic Transfer Vehicles, and on through sealed temperature controlled air-locks to the storage area.
All these facilities at the Centre guarantee that working within a closed-loop cool chain supply system ensure the market value of the products as long as possible.
8. Are there enough measures in place to ensure Security and Customs procedures?
A: The Dubai Flower Centre recognises the importance of minimising the turnaround time of customs and phytosanitary inspections to ensure a longer product lifespan.
This is why customs, phytosanitary inspections and clearance services are on the main floor in the central handling area for import, export and transit.
The offices of the Ministry of Environment and Water and its subsequent divisions, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Customs and Dubai Police are based in Dubai Flower Centre and on-hand for any eventuality.
9. What is the present capacity of DFC? At what point will you be initiating an expansion process?
A: The Dubai Flower Centre is expected to handle over 150,000 tonnes of perishable produce each year. However, the technologically advanced Centre has the capacity to handle 180,000 tonnes of perishable products a year. We hope this capacity will establish the centre as one of the defining links in the global cool chain.
The DFC already has an in-built expansion strategy. For us expansion is a continuous process. We already have all the systems in place to initiate an expansion process as and when we feel expansion becomes imperative. This is why the DFC is being executed in three phases. In Phase One that was commissioned, we have created just over 34,000 square meters of refridgerated area. We are also planning additional phases of 10,000 square metres to be built over the next five years, as necessitated by demand.
10. What would be your next phase for moving to the new Dubai Logistics City at Dubai World Central?
A: Dubai World Central will be linked to Dubai International Airport, the Dubai Flower Centre and Jebel Ali Interantional Airport by dedicated road and high-speed express rail links. Logistics companies and airlines will be able to move freight and passengers between land, sea and air, all from one location, without ever having to leave the bonded free zone environment.
At Dubai World Central's heart is the new Dubai World Central International Airport which will have an annual cargo capacity of 12 million tonnes, more than three times that of Memphis, today's largest cargo hub, and a passenger capacity of more than 120 million - almost 50% more than Atlanta, currently the world's busiest passenger airport. In combination with the Dubai Flower Centre and Dubai Cargo Village, the new Dubai Logistics City will serve the needs of every transport mode, logistics need and value-adding operation in the supply chain.
A: According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), global air cargo traffic grew 5.7% in the first four months of 2006, with Middle East traffic leading in accelerating air freight growth. Freight traffic out of the Middle East surged 17.9% compared to the first four months of last year. The Dubai International Airport which has witnessed a consistent 20% growth in cargo traffic is leading the momentum and the DFC, located adjacent to the airport, could not have been better placed to serve the perishables cargo sector.
The DFC has an annual capacity to handle 180,000 tonnes of perishable products. International companies are increasingly looking at the Dubai facility in order to take advantage of the potential growth in cargo sector. The centre is already nearing capacity as far as warehouse and office-space are concerned. Companies and organizations from as far as Ecuador and Colombia are keen to locate their base at DFC because of its logistical advantages.
The response from countries in South and Central Asia, Southern, Western and Eastern Africa, Europe, the Americas has been so overwhelming. As a one-stop shop for local and international buyers, traders and exporters in a free zone environment, DFC offers unmatched facilities to the cargo sector. We feel this alone will tremendously boost the perishables cargo sector.
12. What will be the future focus area for DFC?
A: One of the key focus areas for DFC in the future will be floriculture. This is because of the overwhelming response for floriculture-based solutions from exporters and traders in the surrounding regions. East and West African flower exporters and traders are increasingly utilizing the state-of-the-art facilities at the DFC for their consignments that are dispatched to regions all over the world.
A DFC delegation recently visited various Indian cities to meet with officials and leading industry figures in the private and government sectors. The delegation appraised the Indian floriculture industry officials and businesses about the state-of-the-art facilities at the DFC. Traders and growers from Europe, South America, East and West African regions besides South Asia have already recognized the significant role the DFC plays in perishables goods transshipment and have begun operations at the centre.
Thus the floriculture sector stands to benefit from the DFC which offers superior processes, facilities, technology and staff, making it the only place to trade, store and add-value to perishables in the Middle East and beyond.
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© Press Release 2007
