DED, Dubai World Central sign MOU to promote ‘aerotropolis’
Agreement covers licensing and registration, export development, foreign investment, events and promotions, and SME support development
18 November, 2012
The
Department of Economic Development (DED) in Dubai and the Dubai
Aviation City Corporation (DACC), the entity responsible for the
development of Dubai World Central (DWC), the world’s first
purpose-built aerotropolis, have signed a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) to establish a framework for mutually beneficial cooperation to
promote the customer base, world-class infrastructure and facilities of
DWC.
The
MoU was signed by His Excellency Sami Al Qamzi, Director General,
Department of Economic Development, and Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive
Chairman, Dubai Aviation City Corporation.
DWC
will take advantage of the resources and expertise of the DED and its
agencies to jointly undertake various initiatives that meet their
respective commercial and strategic objectives to drive the economic
growth and prosperity of Dubai. The key areas covered by the MoU are
licensing and registration, export development, foreign investment,
events and promotions, and SME support development.
Sami
Al Qamzi said: “As the chief government authority responsible for
implementing and co-ordinating initiatives that enhance Dubai’s business
leadership, we consider Dubai World Central as an integral component of
the long-term economic agenda of Dubai Government and central to its
efforts to establish the emirate as the region’s premier aviation and
logistics hub. We are therefore looking forward to collaborating with
DWC as part of our mandate to achieve sustainable economic development
in Dubai.”
Khalifa
Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman, Dubai Aviation City Corporation, said:
“Our partnership with the DED underlines the importance of the strategic
support of Dubai Government to realising the vision of Dubai World
Central to be a world-class aviation and logistics hub. Moreover, DWC
and DED will work together to reinforce the economic drivers of Dubai
and contribute to achieving the goals of the Dubai Strategic Plan. We
will continue to establish strategic alliances with key government and
private sector entities in line with DWC’s mission to serve as a
catalyst for growth and long-term economic and social development in
Dubai and across the region.”
Rashed
Bu Qara'a, Chief Operating Officer, Dubai Aviation City Corporation,
said: “The agreement with the Department of Economic Development will
give Dubai World Central better access to government resources and
expertise to develop policies, regulations and best practices that are
strongly aligned with the economic initiatives and goals of Dubai
Government. This is an important initiative that complements our efforts
to promote DWC’s state-of-the-art aviation and logistics facilities and
groundbreaking multi-modal infrastructure.”
Under
the agreement, DWC and DED will share expertise on the policies,
procedures and regulations for the registration and licensing of
individual entrepreneurs, commercial enterprises and professional
organisations. They will also explore initiatives for promoting flexible
commercial operations at DWC. Moreover, through Dubai Exports, the
export development agency of DED, both parties will cooperate in
promoting the world-class facilities and efficient export processes at
DWC as well as the products and services at the purpose-built
aerotropolis.
The
agreement also means DWC, in co-association with Dubai FDI, the foreign
direct investment (FDI) promotion office in DED, will review and
investigate areas for improving economic policies and regulations to
attract new FDI to DWC as well as define, establish and promote new
initiatives to establish country-specific business hubs at DWC.
The
MoU covers all future events to be held at DWC such as the Dubai
Airshow and the Middle East Business Aviation (MEBA). Through the Dubai
Events and Promotions Establishment (DEPE), both parties will ensure
that such events are well publicised through the Dubai Calendar and
other initiatives of DEPE.
DWC
and Dubai SME, the DED agency mandated to develop the small and medium
enterprise (SME) sector will also work together to define, establish and
promote new initiatives to support entrepreneurs and establish DWC as a
platform to foster SME growth.
Following
the signing of the agreement, the DED officials were taken on a tour of
Dubai World Central, to provide them a detailed overview of the
infrastructure facilities and the various elements of DWC. DED officials
also visited the facilities of Integrated National Logistics (INL), a
total logistics solutions leader having a new Central Distribution and
Logistics Centre, the largest single-site warehousing complex in the
UAE.
