Chinese conglomerate East Hope Group evaluates Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD) for expansion plans

• East Hope is the latest major Chinese firm to express interest in Abu Dhabi as a Middle East hub

Shanghai, China: Chinese manufacturing giant East Hope Group is working with KIZAD on the feasibility of setting up a development worth more than USD 10 billion at Abu Dhabi’s industrial hub.

The agreement was signed by Samir Chaturvedi, CEO of KIZAD, and Meng Changjun, President of Investments, East Hope Group, in the presence of His Excellency Rashed Matar Alsiri Alqemzi, Consul General, United Arab Emirates Consulate General in Shanghai and Yongxing Liu, Chairman of East Hope Group. Under this agreement, the two entities are looking into a possible 15-year, three-phase plan to develop 7.6 square kilometres of land at KIZAD.

In phase one of the proposed project, East Hope would develop an alumina facility, while the second phase would include a red mud research centre and recycling project. The final phase of the project would see large-scale upstream and downstream non-ferrous metal processing facilities.

As part of the agreement, KIZAD, Abu Dhabi’s first integrated trade, logistics, industrial and free zone and a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Ports, would support East Hope Group across all areas as it investigates setting up in Abu Dhabi, including ensuring the best utility prices, acquiring the land, creating a masterplan and handling the import of raw materials through Khalifa Port, and storage. The agreement also includes exploring options for the sustainable generation of energy and a sustainability program to preserve the environment, including the research centre.

East Hope Group, which is headquartered in Shanghai, is the latest Chinese firm to realise the potential of Abu Dhabi as a Middle Eastern hub and a gateway to the region, Africa and Europe. Earlier this year, Roadbot broke ground at KIZAD on a new tyre manufacturing plant, which is located in the 2.2-square-kilometre China-UAE Industrial Capacity Cooperation Demonstration Zone.

Samir Chaturvedi, CEO of KIZAD, said: “The powerful combination of Abu Dhabi’s strategic location, KIZAD’s logistic efficiencies and the connectivity offered by Khalifa Port, the flagship port of Abu Dhabi Ports and one of the region’s biggest maritime hubs, continues to be a powerful magnet for Chinese investments in Abu Dhabi.

“We are delighted that a company of the size and stature of East Hope Group has recognized the unique value proposition of KIZAD and shown interest in joining our thriving and expanding industrial and trade community in Abu Dhabi.”

Yongxing Liu, Chairman of East Hope Group, said: “I am looking forward to integrating our advanced production capacity in the heavy industry with the UAE’s advantages, setting up the strictest environmental standards to establish this new project, facilitating the UAE’s sustainability ambitions. This project will become the benchmarking project along the Belt and Road Initiative between the UAE and China.”

The East Hope Group produces aluminium and related products, as well as animal feed. The Company was founded in 1982 and already has plants in Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore.

As well as the ground-breaking by Roadbot in February, the longstanding economic relationship between China and UAE was also strengthened last year with the official inauguration of the COSCO Shipping and Ports’ Abu Dhabi Terminal at Khalifa Port; positioning Abu Dhabi as the regional hub for COSCO’s global network of 36 ports. These initiatives reiterate the strategic role played by the Emirate to the major trade hubs along the Belt and Road Initiative.

Meanwhile, the China-UAE Industrial Capacity Cooperation Demonstration Zone, which was established in conjunction with Jiangsu Overseas Cooperation Investment Co. Ltd. (JOCIC), has already attracted the interest of 19 Chinese firms since it was set up last year.

For more information: http://www.kizad.ae/ 

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About Abu Dhabi Ports and KIZAD

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. Abu Dhabi Ports has signed concession agreements at Khalifa Port with two of the world's largest shipping lines - COSCO SHIPPING Ports Limited and MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company. Abu Dhabi Ports plans to expand the current capacity at Khalifa Port from 5 million TEU (total capacity of Khalifa Port terminal 1 and CSP Abu Dhabi Terminal) to 9.1 million TEU over the next five years.

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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© Press Release 2019