A 16 member High level delegation from the Japanese Chamber of Commerce in Bangkok visit Jafza “Jebel Ali Free Zone” yesterday to discuss many business related methods.
Ibrahim Mohammed Al Janahi, Vice Presidents of Commercial Sales in Jafza met the delegation that headed by Kenji Shirasaki, Chairman of Mitsui & Co Thailand and President of Japanese Chamber of Commerce in Bangkok and comprises Tetsuji Banno, Vice Chairman & CEO of Marubeni Thailand, Ryoichi Sasaki, Vice Chairman & CEO of Thai Toyota and Tsuyoshi Noro, Chairman of Thai Mitsubishi Corp as well as directors in Japanese Chamber of Commerce in Thailand and top management officials in their operations’ companies.
Al Janahi welcomed the delegation and reaffirming the necessity of developing trade relations and the commercial environment between the two countries. He added that Japan considered an extensive and valuable market for a wide variety of products, and that it is considered in Jebel Ali an essential target for marketing products from the Free Zone factories and companies. “Japan is the fastest growing economy in the world, and Japanese manufacturing and industrial companies have emerged globally competitive. Many of these companies are looking to expand their operations to overseas destinations.”
He also pointed out the existence of more than 92 Japanese companies in Jafza practicing different commercial, industrial and services activities and reinforcing that he’s eager to see this number grow and double in the near future.
The meeting also includes a video presentation of Jafza followed by presentation and discussions led by two parties. Al Janahi explained that Jafza which was established in 1985 has now grown to incorporate over 5,000 companies from over 120 nations and boasts a profound international reputation, including over 140 Fortune Global 500 companies, have set up facilities at Jafza. mentioning that the decision to accept a company in the Free Zone is not only solely based on the trade advantages that can be gained from acquiring a new company, but also depends on other factors the most important being on the company’s ability to contribute an added value to the national economy.
He also remarked on Jafza having expanded its area to over 140 square kilometers due to the large demand of international companies wishing to establish a regional office in order to take advantage of the regional market that incorporates over 2 billion prospective consumers. The current situation reveals that approximately 74% of Free zone companies are engaged in trade activities, while 22% are industrial and the remaining 4% are concerned in services.
On his part, the head of the delegation Mr. Shirasaki addressed the progress of commerce in the UAE and Jebel Ali. He also stated that “the relations between Japan and the UAE are growing, but we would like them to expand even further than the present.” At the same time he mentioned the constant active participation of various factories and companies in commercial events and exhibitions held in Dubai. The Japanese delegation cited the excellent services that are offered by Jafza, and which are considered truly of a superior class.
He also said that the purpose of this visit of Japanese Chamber of Commerce in Bangkok came in line with their plan to visit many countries for last than 10 years, in order to find new business markets and deepen knowledge of them for Japanese businesses based in Thailand. Bangkok also being a Commerce and Tourism oriented country like Dubai, the Japanese delegation would like to discover some hints of new businesses when it will meet with Jafza and hear how Jafza has been promoting towards overseas markets.
At the end the delegation paid a tour to the Jafza’s different facilities and services areas.
