Major German delegation backs Dubai Logistics City concept
Dubai has seized an opportunity passed over by Europe with the creation of the world's first integrated logistics and multi-modal transport platform for air, sea and road services, according to one of the industry's most respected professionals.
Dr. Hans-Peter Stabenau, Head of the German Logistics Academy of Bremen, was speaking during a fact-finding visit to the emirate by Germany's Logistics Entrepreneurs Group (UCS).
"Dubai Logistics City is delivering a dream concept of an integrated logistics platform as it seamlessly integrates with the new international airport in Jebel Ali and the existing Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone for air and ocean transport infrastructure. In Europe, we missed the opportunity for such a platform and now there is no such expansive land available for integration of transport modes and logistics businesses," Stabenau said.
The German mission included Professor Dr. Helmut Baumgarten of Berlin's Technical University who is widely regarded as the most innovative driving force in the development and implementation of integrated logistics and supply chain management for the past 30 years. The delegation visited Dubai International Airport and Dubai Ports World in Jebel Ali.
The UCS visit came following a last year's presentation of Dubai Logistics City (DLC) to 2,500 delegates at Europe's largest logistics conference in Berlin.
"Dubai is now topping the agenda of most European logistics service providers as well as the logistics divisions of leading industrial and trading companies," said Michael Proffitt, CEO, DLC. "Since the October event in Berlin we have received several study groups and company management visits who all wanted a better understanding of the business opportunities here.
"Most European logistics service providers setting up in Dubai realise that together with their existing customers they can use the logistics platform to develop the logistics business in the greater region and also use the emirate as a hub for transcontinental supply chain business, linking Asia with African and European markets. This is the unique business proposition of DLC which is reaping rewards."
Spread over 25 kilometres, DLC is a key component of the world's first truly multi-modal transport platform under a single customs-bonded and free zone area.
Due to be operational at the end of 2007, DLC, which is the first phase of the huge World Central project, will eventually combine all required transport modes with a logistics zone with ample space for warehousing and other logistics services, such as order fulfillment, merge-in-transit, postponement-in-assembly, kitting and packing.
Industry heavyweight Kuehne + Nagel was the first to sign up for DLC and plans to establish a distribution centre there. Another 50 companies, representing a diverse mix of logistics suppliers and operators, have opted to build their own facilities currently covering some two million square metres of DLC land. Companies building their own facilities at DLC are to be given access to their sites in the second quarter of this year.
Construction work on the first dedicated DLC runway is currently underway. The runway will enable DLC to operate as a freighter airport capable of handling the new generation Airbus A380-800F airline. The start of construction work on DLC's common facilities and infrastructure, including shared forwarder warehouses, air cargo terminals, office park, roads and utilities is imminent.
DLC will be the preferred location for businesses which require, or offer, logistics and multi-modal transport services to the GCC, wider Middle East, India, Africa and the southern CIS - a market of more than two billion consumers.
DLC will be adjacent to the new international airport in Jebel Ali and has been designed to eventually handle up to 12 million tons of cargo annually in up to 16 air cargo terminals. The wider World Central project, which will be the size of London's Heathrow and Chicago's O'Hare combined will operate as an independent free zone and eventually accommodate up to 750,000 people.
-Ends-
For further information:
Barbara Saunders,
MCS/Action,
PO Box 20970,
Dubai,
United Arab Emirates.
Tel: +9714 390 2960;
fax: +9714 390 8161
Email: Barbara.s@actionprgroup.com
Or visit DLC online at: www.dubailogisticscity.ae
© Press Release 2006
