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<strong>NAFL</strong> REVIEW<br />
News & Updates<br />
Jafza's automotive & spare parts<br />
sector trade valued at $5 billion<br />
Mohebi celebrate<br />
85 years in<br />
business<br />
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World & Chairman<br />
of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation<br />
Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), Dubai and the<br />
UAE's flagship trade and logistics hub for<br />
the Middle East region including West Asia,<br />
the CIS, Africa and the Indian Subcontinent<br />
announced its participation in Automechanika<br />
Frankfurt 2016 recently held in<br />
Germany.<br />
Jafza highlighted the Middle East and<br />
Africa's rapidly growing automotive<br />
markets at the international trade fair for<br />
sector parts, equipment and service<br />
suppliers. As the Middle East's trade and<br />
logistics hub, Jafza seeks to attract more<br />
auto industry majors into the Free Zone<br />
interested in expanding their presence in<br />
the region.<br />
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group<br />
Chairman and CEO of DP World and<br />
Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone<br />
Corporation, said: “The automotive sector<br />
in the Middle East and Africa (MEA)<br />
continues to post impressive growth rates<br />
with international brands keen to be a part<br />
of this success by increasing their footprint<br />
across the region. According to Frost &<br />
Sullivan, total light vehicle sales in the<br />
Middle East are estimated to reach 4.4<br />
million by 2020 compared to 3.2 million in<br />
2015.<br />
“This provides major opportunities for<br />
European multinationals in the auto sector<br />
and we encourage other majors in Europe<br />
to come to Jafza to take advantage. Jafza is<br />
the only regional trade and logistics hub in<br />
the world which is located between a<br />
world-class seaport and an international<br />
airport.”<br />
Mr. Bin Sulayem added: “The dynamic<br />
growth in the sector reflects the bright<br />
prospects for the industry over the next few<br />
years . The buoyant mood in the auto sector<br />
in the GCC and MENA offer long-term<br />
growth opportunities to Jafza based<br />
companies as well as multinationals who<br />
want to capitalise on the world's most<br />
attractive auto industry market.”<br />
Ibrahim Mohamed Al Janahi, Deputy CEO<br />
and Chief Commercial Officer of Jafza, said:<br />
“The automotive sector is one of the most<br />
dynamic and innovation driven in Jafza. The<br />
free zone is currently home to over 620<br />
automotive companies which includes<br />
global names such as Honda, Nissan, Ford,<br />
GM, Daimler & Chrysler, Caterplllar, Mobis<br />
and Schaeffler among others. Jafza<br />
Automotive sector generated trade worth<br />
$5 billion in 2015.”<br />
According to firm Frost & Sullivan,the<br />
number of vehicles on the roads in the<br />
Middle east and North Africa is forecast to<br />
rise to 44.5 million in 2020. This growth is<br />
expected to drive demand for parts and<br />
accessories with sales in 2020 projected to<br />
reach $17.2 billion compared to $12.98<br />
billion in 2015. Jafza is currently home to<br />
over 7,000 businesses including more than<br />
100 Global Fortune 500 enterprises.<br />
Over three generations ago Baqer Mohebi<br />
opened his first store in the old Dubai Souk<br />
in 1931. He created jobs, invigorated the<br />
local market and set the benchmark for a<br />
family business that, with his son Zainal<br />
Mohebi at the helm, has grown and<br />
prospered alongside Dubai's own<br />
evolution.<br />
Today, as Zainal Mohebi Holdings (ZMH)<br />
prepares to celebrate its 8<strong>5th</strong> year in<br />
business, CEO Mohammed Mohebi<br />
continues this robust legacy with his team<br />
and family. New facets are being added to<br />
the business models, ensuring that Mohebi<br />
remains a well-respected and forwardlooking<br />
Emirati business enterprise.<br />
F o r e m o s t a m o n g t h e s e a r e t h e<br />
preparations of the new corporate<br />
headquarters and warehouse facilities in<br />
Dubai South that will bring the entire ZMH<br />
family under one roof.<br />
In parallel, the organization is implementing<br />
a r e g i o n - w i d e M o h e b i L o g i s t i c s<br />
educational program involving UAE<br />
universities, academies and government<br />
sectors. It will offer young UAE Nationals the<br />
opportunity to gain a degree and work in the<br />
fi e l d o f p r o d u c t l o g i s t i c s , w h i l e<br />
understanding its challenges and<br />
embracing its opportunities.<br />
COO Phil Showering is spearheading the<br />
initiative for Mohebi Logistics and explains<br />
the practical aspects: “We're working with<br />
various universities and academia to shape<br />
a degree course in Export Logistics. This<br />
will cover industry best practices, the<br />
unique aspects of the GCC markets and the<br />
integration with global markets. Internship<br />
placement will be one of the core<br />
modules.”<br />
In addition, Mohebi Logistics, an affiliate of<br />
the Zainal Mohebi Holdings, is due to move<br />
i n t o t h e G r o u p ' s n e w c o r p o r a t e<br />
headquarters and main warehouses in<br />
D u b a i S o u t h b y 2 0 1 7 . T h i s n e w<br />
development, doubling its storage capacity,<br />
will make Mohebi Logistics one of the<br />
largest FMCG Logistics companies in the<br />
Middle East.<br />
Sep-Oct 2016 / 12