<strong>NAFL</strong> REVIEW Cover Story Emirates turns sight to global pharmaceutical industry with SkyPharma “We have to think about the future,” Sheikh Ahmed said about the company's investment to SkyPharma, part of the Dh600 million expansion of Emirates cargo facility named SkyCentral at Dubai's airport. “It's not about today. It's not about this year.” Sep-Oct 2016 / 06
Cover Story <strong>NAFL</strong> REVIEW E mirates has unveiled its new 4,000 square meter cool storage facility at Dubai International Airport, signaling its intent to seriously break into the $13 t r i l l i o n g l o b a l l i f e s c i e n c e s a n d pharmaceutical industry projected to further grow annually by 25 percent. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group, told the media at the September 18 launching of Emirates SkyCargo's new purpose-built facility dedicated exclusively Ahmed said, noting that the UAE is a major hub for the global logistics industry. SkyPharma also features temperature controlled zones (2 to 8 degree Celsius and 15- 25 degree C e l s i u s ) , 8 8 t e m p e r a t u r e - controlled individual positions in the automated ULD (aircraft pallet) handling system and five temperature-controlled acceptance and delivery truck docks, the airline said in a press release. between them. The carrier also operates the largest GDP certified area in the world offering a total area of 8,600 sqm of combined handling space dedicated for pharmaceutical products at Dubai International Airport and Dubai World Central, the airline said. Chaouk told Air Cargo Update the GDP certification means Emirates is complying with the international regulations in transporting only reliable and genuine pharmaceuticals, thus, helping in the ongoing drive against counterfeit drugs. to the timely and secure transport of temperature sensitive pharmaceutical shipments, the project is a long-term investment with good intentions. “We have to think about the future,” Sheikh Ahmed said about the company's investment to SkyPharma, part of the Dh600 million expansion of Emirates cargo facility named SkyCentral at Dubai's airport. “It's not about today. It's not about this year.” The opening of the new facility, which was directed by Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is envisioned to further encourage more companies to connect pharmaceutical markets via Dubai International Airport, a major transportation hub between the East and the West, Sheikh Quality Care Bureau Veritas, a trusted world leader in testing and certification founded in 1828, awarded Emirates SkyCargo with the certification of compliance under the EU Good Distribution Practice Guidelines (GDP) for medicinal products for human. Ahmad Chaouk, vice president/deputy regional chief executive for Middle East Region of Bureau Veritas, said EmiratesSky Cargo, the largest international airline cargo operator in the world, got the certification following an audit recommen-dation by a team from Germany. This makes Emirates SkyCargo the first cargo airline in the world that has obtained GDP certification for its hub operations covering two airports and the 24/7 bonded trucking service that connects cargo “Emirates was already transporting pharmaceutical products. The GDP means its traceability system is in line with the European Union and complying with international regulations, thus, help curb the distribution of counterfeit drugs which are dangerous,” Chaouk said in an interview. Apart from its state-of-the-art facilities, SkyPharma also boasts of innovations like the White Container, which is coated on the inside with thermal insulators to counteract high temperatures in Dubai and preserve sensitive cargo, the Emirates SkyCargo Cool Dolly—a special piece of equipment that transports cargo from the aircraft to cool storage areas while maintaining temperatures of as low as -20 degrees centigrade, among others. 07 / Sep-Oct 2016
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