The Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) are reinforcing their operational cooperation in order to prevent fraud and trade related malpractice, both bodies declared today (Monday, July 3, 2006).
The Jebel Ali Free Zone is the largest and fastest growing free zone in the Middle East and North Africa region, hosting more than 6,000 companies. The European Anti-Fraud Office is the European Community’s (EC) service in charge of the fight against fraud to the detriment of the EC’s financial interests.
Within the broader framework of the Free Trade Agreement between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the European Community currently under negotiation, OLAF and the Jebel Ali Free Zone are reinforcing cooperation in order to prevent fraud and trade related malpractice. This development is starting with cooperation on practical cases and will extend to supporting the development of anti-fraud structures in the Jebel Ali Free Zone, in particular the establishment of a business intelligence and anti-fraud unit there.
This cooperation is intended to improve investigative procedures and to minimize the potential for fraud. It will also provide for developing a guide for good practice in international trade for the purposes of the Jebel Ali Free Zone and will reduce the risk of Jafza being misused for unlawful practices thereby protecting its reputation. This is the first initiative of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa region.
