Unilever Global praises Dubai Customs IPR efforts

Unilever Global has expressed its thanks for the efforts made by Dubai Customs in the protection of IPR and trade marks from risks of fraud and counterfeit activities which might negatively affect health of consumers and productivities of these companies and patents.

The role played by Dubai Customs as well as the availability of related regulations throughout UAE would attract more foreign investments international capitals in all fields. This is the reason why Unilever Global is making huge expansion for its regional HQ in Jebel Ali Free Zone and its Lipton Factory to make it the biggest of its factories around the globe, the company stated. 

This came during the meeting of His Excellency Ahmed Butti Ahmed, Executive Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone, Director General of Dubai Customs with Mr. Mohammed Mustafa Sayed, regional Director of Unilever Global branch. During the reception, Mr. Mustafa gifted the trophy of the company and a message of thanks on behalf of the Council of Board to His Excellency Ahmed Butti.

During the meeting, His Excellency Ahmed Butti emphasized that the protection of society and health of individuals to keep them safe from the risks of consuming fraud and fake products is the top priority of   Dubai Customs’ strategic objectives because the Dept is supposed to be the frontline protector, he confirmed. This objective goes hand to hand with Dubai Customs key objectives in relation to the enhancement of economic development. “Dubai Customs never stands short in thwarting any attempts of smuggling fraud and counterfeited goods through the customs, sea, land or air ports. It relies on a number of qualified cadres and highly trained customs inspectors who are well-trained and who attended sessions and workshops including the IPR awareness training” HE added. 

The DG also stressed on the positive outcomes that can be achieved through the mutual cooperation and understanding between the public and private sectors in bringing about good benefits to the community, international working companies, trademarks owners, local and international economy in general. He said that the closely cooperation with the brand Owners Council is highly important.        

For his part, Mr. Mohammed Mustafa Saeed, Regional Director of “Unilever” said: “We are grateful for the efforts of Dubai Customs and their cooperation with us in maintaining our globally well-known trademark and providing us with official statistics on regular basis that helps us in our future planning”. He pointed out that the company’s trademarks contain more than 5000 products around the world in 20 areas, including tea, skin care products, cosmetics and detergents. He explained that the company’s global revenues reached more than 40 Billion Euros in 2010 (AED 206 billion) with growth of 6% on revenues compared to 2009. He added that the tea sales of “Lipton” trademark only had exceeded a billion Euros (AED 5.15 billion) of the total sales. “We are currently doing a great expansion in the tea factory in Jebel Ali, which exports for 50 countries. By 2011, these expansions will increase the factory production capacity enabling us to expand the circle of countries that we export to”. 

Mr. Abdulla Mohammed Al Obaidly- “Unilever Global” Trademark Consultant in the UAE, Arab GCC countries and North Africa has attended the meeting in the presence of Mr. Yousif Ozair Mubarak- Senior Manager- IPR at Dubai Customs.