Abu Dhabi
Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad), which currently has 200 companies operating with investments of Dh60 billion, is expected to grow further with new facilities being created, a senior executive told Gulf News in an interview.
“We are expanding our facilities in Kizad to attract more companies to the free zone. We are building new warehouses as part of logistics city and have recently launched a construction city to cater to the needs of building materials industry in the country,” said Edwin Lammers, vice president of commercial and business development in Kizad.
He said they are working on two more projects, including a food city for food processing industry and a polymer park, which will bring polymer converters to Kizad.
Since the launch in 2010, Kizad has attracted a wide array of industries including aluminium, packaging, food processing, polymers, among others.
The free zone has a total size of 410 square kilometres with facilities for firms to set up their bases closer to Khalifa Port that is being expanded massively to boost capacity and handle more cargo.
Some of the big companies operating in Kizad include Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), Jiangsu Provincial Overseas Cooperation and Investment Company Limited (JOCIC), Cosco Shipping, Agility Logistics, among others.
Logistics will be a key for the growth of Kizad, Lammers said adding that the recent agreement of Abu Dhabi Ports with MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company will bring a game changing effect on the free zone.
“It (MSC shipping) will bring connectivity. You will see that a lot of established business in the region will look at Kizad and they want to establish here.”
MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company will be investing Dh4 billion to develop a container terminal at Khalifa Port and the money will be spent on operational equipment as well as in deepening the berths to handle some of the world’s largest shipping vessels.
The Swiss-based global transportation and logistics firm signed a 30-year concession agreement with Abu Dhabi Ports last month in this regard.
Chinese firms are also investing in a big way in Kizad. Since July 2017, fifteen Chinese companies signed lease agreements for land in Kizad with a total investment of $1 billion.
Cosco Shipping from China will also build and operate a terminal at Khalifa Port apart from creating new facilities in Kizad (Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi).
“We have a very clear vision where we want to grow. We have a deep port, we have good utility prices and with the shipping lines coming on line, our future is bright.”
