- Annual production capacity for Roadbot Tire Project KIZAD will reach 10 million Passenger Car Radial tires and 1 million Truck and Bus Radial tires by 2022
- The scale of production will be one of the highest in the world for PCR and TBR tires at a single location
- The factory at KIZAD will further spur growth in the downstream industry in Abu Dhabi and connect the UAE to regional and international automotive markets
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Senior industry figures from China and the UAE celebrated the groundbreaking of the Roadbot Tire Project KIZAD (‘Roadbot’) today, marking the development of the first tire manufacturing plant in the UAE and the growth of downstream industry in KIZAD, Abu Dhabi’s industrial hub and part of Abu Dhabi Ports.
Developed by Chinese tire manufacturer Roadbot with a total investment of AED 2.2 billion (USD 614.37 million), the Roadbot factory is being built in KIZAD’s China-UAE Industrial Capacity Cooperation Demonstration Zone in line with international standards and equipped with latest innovative solutions in tire production. It will be fully operational by October 2020.
The 2.2 square kilometre Demonstration Zone is being developed by Jiangsu Provincial Overseas Cooperation and Investment Company (JOCIC), and Roadbot becomes the first Chinese firm to set up there since JOCIC and Abu Dhabi Ports signed a 50-year agreement in 2017. The Roadboat project was launched last year during the visit of Chinese Premier Xi Jinping to the UAE.
Across 275,000 square metres, the factory will have an initial annual production capacity of 3 million Passenger Car Radial (PCR) tires and 1 million Truck and Bus Radial (TBR) tires; with production increasing to 10 million PCR tires and 1 million Truck and Bus Radials by 2022. The facility strengthens Abu Dhabi’s unique position in the regional original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and replacement tire markets.
The groundbreaking ceremony was held in the presence of His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, the UAE Minister of State and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Ports, and attended by Roadbot Chairwoman Zhang Yingzi.
His Excellency Dr Sultan Al Jaber said: “The Roadbot tire factory will make an important contribution to the UAE’s manufacturing base as part of our leadership’s longstanding strategy to diversify our economy. Today’s groundbreaking also demonstrates the increasingly close ties between the UAE and China, and reinforces the UAE’s role as a key partner in China’s Belt and Road initiative. China and the UAE enjoy a symbiotic relationship that cuts across culture, investment and trade, underpinned by a deep understanding of the important role we both play in the region’s economic development and prosperity.
“This inauguration marks another significant step towards cementing Abu Dhabi’s role as a hub for global trade and connectivity, leveraging the UAE’s unique position as a trading link between East and West and supporting the leadership’s vision to enhance the UAE’s position as a highly attractive destination for investment in today’s competitive business environment.”
Roadbot Chairwoman Zhang Yingzi said: “The Roadbot Abu Dhabi tire project is the result of close cooperation between the UAE and Chinese governments. It is an important part of the Belt and Road Initiative and a crystallization of multiculturalism, based on the principle of achieving shared growth through discussion and collaboration. We are deeply honored to be playing a part in the economic transformation in Abu Dhabi.”
Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports, said: “Abu Dhabi’s strategic location as a gateway to the MENA region and KIZAD’s logistic efficiencies and connectivity continue to attract significant interest from the Chinese business community, and we are delighted that our partnership with JOCIC continues to attract more and more Chinese firms to KIZAD.
“Roadbot will connect Abu Dhabi to global and regional automotive manufacturing demand; joining over 19 Chinese companies that have signed agreements to invest over USD1 billion in the demonstration zone established within the KIZAD. These companies have identified the value proposition that helped put Abu Dhabi Ports and KIZAD on the global trade map, especially in the context of the China’s Belt and Road Initiative.”
The factory will meet the global tire industry's highest standards of design and construction, and, when completed, be an intelligent, fully automated, and eco-friendly plant. It will include alpine waterfalls and ecological gardens in the atrium, creating an inviting and encouraging environment for employees. The facility will also harness the latest technology to enhance productivity, such as the internet of things, logistics automation, smart equipment, equipment networking and system real-time data collection, and intelligent analysis.
Roadbot Tire Project KIZAD is set to play a major role in the UAE’s economic diversification and sustainability plans, creating up to 1,200 new jobs and supporting the development of an innovative and sustainable ecosystem for the automotive industry in the UAE.
The longstanding economic relationship between China and UAE was recently strengthened with the official inauguration of the CSP Abu Dhabi Terminal at Khalifa Port; positioning Abu Dhabi as the regional hub for COSCO’s global network of 36 ports and further connecting the Emirate to the major trade hubs along the Belt and Road Initiative.
Currently, several automotive projects are based at KIZAD, with the industrial zone acting as a regional mega hub for Completely Built Up (CBU) logistics for Al Futtaim and Ghassan Aboud Cars. Through Autoterminal Barcelona’s RoRo/Car Terminal at Khalifa Port, KIZAD and Khalifa Port are positioned to become a regional hub for commercial car trade routes in the Gulf, East Africa and the Red Sea. Currently global automotive brands such as Toyota, Jeep, Dodge, Fiat, Honda operate volumes out of KIZAD’s automotive cluster.
For more information: http://www.kizad.ae/
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About Abu Dhabi Ports
Established in 2006, Abu Dhabi Ports, the master developer, operator and manager of commercial and community ports within the emirate of Abu Dhabi, in addition to the Port of Fujairah, as well as the trade and logistics hub, Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD), in which Khalifa Port Free Trade Zone attracts direct investments to over 100 km2 of free zone opportunities, the largest in the Middle East region.
Inaugurated on Dec 12, 2012 by President of the UAE, HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Khalifa Port is the flagship port of Abu Dhabi Ports and is considered to be the first semi-automated container port in the region. Abu Dhabi Ports also owns 50% of Abu Dhabi Terminals, which operates and manages Khalifa Port Container Terminal with a full suite of logistics solutions to benefit trade partners and shipping lines. In addition to the current capacity of 2.5 million TEUs, the recent deal Abu Dhabi Ports signed with COSCO SHIPPING Ports Limited, which is expected to commence operations by 2019, will raise the annual capacity to 6 million TEUs in both container terminals.
Abu Dhabi Ports’ subsidiaries include Abu Dhabi Marine Services “SAFEEN”, providing a comprehensive range of marine, navigational and ancillary quayside services as well as VTS Services and fleet maintenance in a safe, secure and efficient manner; Maqta Gateway, developer and operator of the first port community in the emirate; and Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal, the first permanent cruise terminal in the region. To meet the increasing demand of cruise liners and passengers, Sir Bani Yas Cruise Beach was developed, offerings cruise ship passengers a new beach destination with unmatched tourism experiences. Additionally, Abu Dhabi Ports also manages the Maritime Training Centre at Musaffah Port.
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