Economic Zones World Bi-Monthly Newsletter - Jebel Ali Free Zone

PAGE 5COMPANY NEWSBridgestone Middle East-Africa Sales Doubles in the Last Six YearsExpects Even Better Growth in the Current FiscalJafza-based Bridgestone Middle East &Africa FZE, a fully-owned subsidiary ofBridgestone Corporation, the world’slargest tyre makers, has seen more thana hundred per cent growth in its MiddleEast and Africa sales since the turn ofthis century.“By achieving more than a 15% yearto-yeargrowth, we have retained ourmarket leadership in this region aswell,” said Yujiro Kanahara, PresidentBridgestone Middle East & Africa FZE,commenting on Bridgestone’sconsistent impressive growth.“I believe that the market preferenceof Bridgestone tyres results from ourlong-term commitment to the region,assuring optimum driving safety andsuperior performance even in the mostdemanding market conditions,” headded. Bridgestone has more than a30% market share in the truck and bustyre sector and a 15% market share inthe passenger cars including four wheeldrive tyres in the region.Though Bridgestone as a brand wasknown and present in the Middle Eastfor more than six decades, its first ownlocal office was established in Dubai inthe mid 70s. Bridgestone continued togrow steadily, keeping pace with theeconomic development in the region,ever since.In order to manage its rapidly growingbusiness more efficiently, Bridgestone,in 1999, established Bridgestone MiddleEast FZE in Jafza to look after productplanning, pricing, promotions, dealertraining and product distribution inGCC countries and Iran except SaudiArabia. Bridgestone built its ownfacility in the free zone in 2003, whichcomprised a 12,960 sq. m. state-of-theartwarehouse, an office block and adedicated training centre. The trainingcentre offers a number of need specifictraining modules to provide appropriatetraining to its dealers, distributors,and their sales and service staff, andalso for creating awareness about therole of tyres in driving safety among itsdirect customers. The training centrealso provides time to time training toBridgestone staff in the region.With the custom designed facility inplace Bridgestone continued to showimpressive growth despite trying marketconditions. The growth eventually droveBridgestone to almost double the areaof its warehouse to 23,400 sq. m. in thelast three years.In order to serve this dynamicregion more efficiently, BridgestoneCorporation, in October, 2006established Bridgestone Middle East &Africa FZE as its Middle East & AfricaTyre Business Strategic Business Unit(SBU). The new Jafza-based entity nowcovers more than 70 countries in theMiddle East and Africa region.“The Middle East & Africa SBU has beenset-up to speed up decision makingand action, and optimising regionalstrategy by identifying market trends bycoming close to the customer and themarket,” said Yujiro Kanahara, PresidentBridgestone Middle East & Africa FZE.“The initiative has already made apositive impact on the Bridgestonebusiness in the region, which has postedabout 20% growth in the first half of2007, compared to the same period in2006,” he added.With the new mandate and profileBridgestone seems all set to climb tothe next level of growth despite growingcompetition in the region.Mr. Yujiro Kanahara, President BridgestoneMiddle East & Africa FZE