Jafza sees 12 per cent growth in food and beverage sector investments

Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) has seen a 12 per cent increase in the number of companies in the food and beverage sector in 2010, taking the total number of F&B companies in the free zone to 250 at the end of the year. The free zone expects to maintain the momentum with new investments from companies in Europe.

Jafza, which took part in leading global food fair in Anuga, Cologne in Germany as part of a high-level delegation to promote Dubai's and the UAE's status as the most attractive business hub in the MENA region, expects European investments in the free zone.

Leading F&B companies, including Mars GCC, Kraft Foods, PepsiCo, Unilever, Procter and Gamble, Heinz, Wrigley, McCain International, Alokozay Tea, conduct their MENA operations from Jafza currently and the free zone expects to expand its current clientele to include more global names.

"Jafza has seen strategic investments from the F&B sector rise in recent years. Not only did we see the number of F&B companies in Jafza rise by 12 per cent in 2010 but also we've managed to sustain these numbers year-on-year over the last five years despite the economic recession. From the start, Jafza has attracted FDI from the global food and beverage industry, drawn by the free zone's strategic location, its trading and redistribution potential and business opportunities in the Middle East," said Ibrahim Mohamed Al Janahi, deputy CEO and chief commercial officer of Jafza.

"The GCC region is dependent on food imports offering many opportunities to global companies who have easy access to markets in the MENA region and Asia as well where the demand for food is steadily rising. Jafza with its premium investor benefits, offers European companies an ideal business environment. Our participation in this exhibition helped us communicate these benefits to potential customers and generate good leads," Mansoor Al Bastaki, senior regional manager, Global Sales, Europe, said at the event.

Anuga is the world's leading food fair for the retail trade and the food service and catering market. More than 155,000 trade visitors from 180 countries came to Anuga 2011 Cologne to experience the product range presented by the event's 6,596 suppliers from 100 countries.