zonescorp drives uae manufacturing base
MEMEX presents new wave of Middle East manufacturers and suppliers
One of the Arabian Gulf’s emerging industries received the vote of confidence at the inaugural Middle East Manufacturing Exhibition (MEMEX) currently taking place in Abu Dhabi until tomorrow (Tuesday 12 December).
After officially declaring MEMEX open at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre and getting behind the wheel of the vehicle on the company’s stand, Engineer Jabber Al Khaili, CEO of Abu Dhabi’s Higher Corporation for Specialized Economic Zones – ZonesCorp, signed the purchase order for a top-of-the-range pick-up from Gulf Automobile Industry and encouraged others to do the same.
“Mr Khaili has been a great supporter of the company since day one and has visited our factory to see production,” said Engineer Aly Baker, plant manager for Gulf Automobile, based on Abu Dhabi’s Industrial City 1. “We are proud of the faith he has shown in our vehicles.”
With a starting price of AED 36,000 Gulf Automobile company began manufacturing pick-ups in May this year, at the rate of around 50 per month and expects to produce between 3,000 and 5,000 vehicles in 2008. Currently, 25 per cent of the vehicle contents is locally manufactured with the proportion to increase to around 40 per cent in coming years. Heavy and light trucks as well as fork lifts are also planned by the company.
The success of Gulf Automobiles is evidence of the new industrial revolution currently taking place at the Middle East Manufacturing Exhibition in Abu Dhabi. Exhibitors from 11 countries including Germany, Belgium, UK, Italy, Taiwan, Korea, China, Iran, India and the United Arab Emirates are taking part.
The expansion of the economies of the Arabian Gulf is stimulating investment in domestic manufacturing. Most Gulf Co-operation Council countries are reducing economic dependence on oil and gas by setting up industrial zones to stimulate growth in manufacturing. According to the latest statistics, the total value of all non-oil and gas industrial projects in the region already exceeds US$115 billion.
ZonesCorp CEO Al Khaili also announced at the event a further multi-billion dollar investment by Abu Dhabi in Al Ain Industrial City which will open in February next year with a focus on the agricultural industry. Already 70 per cent of available space has been booked, he said.
sun appli
