DUBAI – The Dubai World Central (DWC), a strategic business initiative of that country has encouraged the Namibian government and local private companies to acquire land or office space for the distribution of Namibian products to the United Arab Emirates and the Middle East.
The DWC structure, which is currently under construction, is one of the most ambitious projects of its kind in the world, occupying an area of 140 square kilometres in the Jebel Ali district in Dubai, next to the United Arab Emirates’ largest free zone, called Jafza, and the Jebel Ali Sea Port, the sixth-largest container terminal in the world.A Namibian business delegation which has been in Dubai since Monday, toured the DWC on Wednesday.In an interview with Nampa, DWC’s Key Accounts Manager for Sales and Marketing, Mohammed Alfalasi said Namibia can benefit from the DWC by establishing a warehouse for the distribution, export or re-export of Namibian products to the Middle East.’Namibia can re-export fish, dates, karakul and beef, among others, to the UAE and Middle East without any tax involved, through the DWC,’ he explained.He said 70 per cent of the fish that is consumed in Dubai is imported, and Namibia can take advantage of this fact and start exporting fish to the UAE market and to the Middle East through the DWC.Operating from the DWC has a lot of benefits to investors, which include customs duty-free zones, 100 per cent ownership of companies, zero personal income taxes and corporate taxes, and access to the Dubai international airport.He said 50 companies and governments have already secured office space and land in the DWC.’Many African governments and companies have already acquired space in the DWC,’ he stated, without divulging any names.The DWC is a complete integrated logistics hub, designed to deliver efficiency to businesses that demand speed and connectivity.It comprises the Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai Logistics City, DWC Aviation City, DWC Commercial City, DWC Residential City and DWC Golf City.DWC’s unique multi-model capabilities are strengthened by a link to the Jebel Ali Sea Port, direct links to all main motorways in the country, and is also home to the Al Maktoum International Airport, which is currently under construction.Once completed, the airport will handle up to 120 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of air cargo per year, serving as the gateway to aviation and logistics’ companies that have already chosen DWC as their base for fast-cycle logistics.DWC is a multi-phase project with construction well underway, and is expected to cost US$16 billion on completion.Phase One of the development is now complete, and has been open for business since June last year.Phase One includes the first stage of the Al Maktoum International Airport, which is already able to serve five to seven million passengers, and 600 000 tonnes of cargo annually. – Nampa
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