Free Zone plays an integral role in maintaining the supply chain efficiency of essentials
DP World, UAE Region’s Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) witnessed a 12 per cent growth in its healthcare and pharmaceuticals customer base between 2019-2020, according to a recent press communiqué.
Spanning an area of around 170,000sqm, and currently housing 174 companies from 41 countries, the segment provides jobs to 1,100 employees. In 2019, the volume of trade in the segment stood at 25,000 metric tonnes, valued at AED900mn (US$ 245mn).
Unlocking growth
The healthcare sector in the UAE has rapidly expanded to meet the evolving needs of the population, helping the nation in its endeavour to become a regional medical tourism hub.
Partnerships and initiatives by the government and private and public sector companies are helping to achieve these goals. DP World, UAE Region and Jafza have been at the forefront, ensuring sustainable growth of this sector.
“The boom in the healthcare and pharmaceuticals segment in Jafza has highlighted the core competencies of the sector in the Middle East and the seamless connectivity DP World, UAE Region offers to over 3.5 billion consumers through the highly efficient trade and logistics hub in Jebel Ali, which includes Jafza and the Jebel Ali Port,” affirmed Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO & Managing Director, DP World-UAE Region and Jafza.
Specialized facilities
As the only free zone with the ability to support indigenous manufacturing for the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector, Jafza has facilities dedicated to the storage of ancillary vaccine preparation and administration items. Additionally, Jebel Ali Port has temperature-controlled warehouses and also consists of nearly 10,000 reefer points spread across the terminals to power refrigerated containers and support pharmaceutical trade.
Several incentives like on-demand warehouses on short term lease with multi-functional storage options, no VAT or customs duties and cost-effective transport services enhance ease of accessibility and enable speedier deliveries to benefit companies that operate in Jebel Ali, the press release concluded.
