Eight government entities sign MoUs with Abu Dhabi Ports
Abu Dhabi Ports signs MOUs with government entities to bolster joint cooperation and streamline services for customers and investors-
Abu Dhabi, UAE, 25 November 2017: Abu Dhabi Ports, the master developer, operator and manager of commercial and community ports within the emirate of Abu Dhabi, in addition to the Port of Fujairah, as well as the trade and logistics hub, Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD), announced the opening of eight Abu Dhabi Government representative offices at KIZAD’s Business Center in their Taweelah HQ, including the Department of Economic Development; Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities; Ministry of Interior representing the General Command of Civil Defence and relevant directorates; Environment Agency– Abu Dhabi; Abu Dhabi Chamber; Higher Corporation for Specialized Economic Zones (ZonesCorp); the Department of Transport; and the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship.
H.E. Mohammed Helal Al Muhairi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Chamber signs with Captain Al Shamisi
The launch of these services at KIZAD follows an MoU signing between Abu Dhabi Ports and the entities, which aims to facilitate communication procedures between customers and government entities, by establishing a single window that will provide all the necessary facilities and services needed when setting business at KIZAD.
Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports commented, “We are proud to witness this milestone in terms of our business service offering to our customers and investors. We are committed to providing a world-class service at Abu Dhabi Ports within all its assets, and KIZAD has been designed to provide convenience and ease for customers at each stage of the trade cycle. We welcome the opportunity provided by our partners to build on our offerings and enhance customer and investor experiences at KIZAD. As we move into a new era of trade we are eager to make integration with other services and entities as seamless as possible in order to amplify Abu Dhabi’s position as an industrial, logistics and trade hub of excellence.”
H.E. Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Secretary General of Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi signs with Captain Al Shamisi
H.E. Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Secretary General of Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, stressed on the importance of this memorandum in enhancing cooperation between EAD and KIZAD to simplify the environmental permit process and improve environmental performance in the Emirate by providing a clear, effective, and efficient framework for the environmental permitting of industrial, commercial and light industrial projects in KIZAD.
H.E. Al Mubarak praised KIZAD’s Business Center saying “it will offer a single portal to deliver all services required by investors, and to submit applications electronically, which will save them time and effort to get the required licenses from one place and help to raise the level of customer service and their satisfaction”.
“This partnership will also help to ensure a safe and stimulating environment for investment in the industrial and economic sectors in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in line with the government plan to enhance the ability of this sector to compete at all levels” she added.
Colonel Yusuf Ismail Al Khouri, Deputy Director General of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Abu Dhabi signs with Captain Al Shamisi
Under the MoU, EAD shall be responsible for reviewing, approving or rejecting environmental permit applications, studies, management plans, operating permits and any other environmental submissions required in accordance with the Technical Guidance Documents, and Standard Operating Procedures developed and amended by EAD. The Agency is also responsible for responding to KIZAD investors with regards to their applications submitted through its website within the agreed review timelines, as well as monitoring all investors throughout their establishment process to ensure compliance with all licensing and permitting requirements, in addition to applying penalties (as provided by law) to non-compliant KIZAD investors and inform KIZAD of any breach of environmental laws or regulations in order for KIZAD to apply the appropriate sanctions.
To that regard, H.E. Khalifa Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Undersecretary of the Department of Transport (DoT), stated that the cooperation between DoT and Abu Dhabi Ports – Khalifa Industrial Zone – KIZAD, aids in easing the process of service provided to the investors in KIZAD. This will be achieved by using the single window system in the Business Center at the KIZAD effectively and efficiently.
Eng. Amer Al Hammadi, Executive Director of the Corporate Services Sector at the Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities signs with Captain Al Shamisi.
Al Mazrouei added that this cooperation symbolizes the Government’s vision and continuous efforts to enhance the local investment environment and strengthen the cooperation and strategic integration between government entities and private sector. That is in aim to support the level of services provided to the investors, the development in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and increase the public benefit.
Al Mazrouei said that the enhancement of cooperation between the strategic stakeholders, especially service providers, is the most successful way to help in boosting the local economy and evolving the business community. The cooperation will raise the level of services provided, productivity, investors’ trust and the competitiveness of Abu Dhabi’s economy. Al Mazrouei assured that this cooperation, which is guided by the wise directions of our leadership, identifies an integrated clear vision where everyone works in compliance with it to enable the constructing of a true partnership that boosts the local business sector and present best services to the investors and customers.
His Excellency Khalifa Bin Salem Al Mansouri, Deputy Undersecretary – DED signs with Captain Al Shamisi Abu Dhabi Ports
H.E. Khaleefa Bin Salem Al Mansouri, Undersecretary – Department of Economic Development, said that the announcement of the additional services to KIZAD’s one-stop-shop business center is considered such a significantly important step in the framework of joint cooperation and coordination between the Economic Development Department and KIZAD, for the purpose of providing excellent and integrated governmental services for the industrial investors in Abu Dhabi, in light of the growing industrial investments in Kizad over the past years. He stressed the keenness of the Department of Economic Development to take advantage of the services provided by the Center by providing all its services easily and flexibly to businessmen and investors, creating an attractive business environment that contributes to enhancing the competitiveness of the industrial sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi at both regional and international levels.
H.E. Khalifa Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Undersecretary of the Department of Transport (DoT) signs with Captain Al Shamisi
H.E Saeed Eisa Mohammed Al Khyeli- ZonesCorp Director General, said: “Acknowledging the efforts of Abu Dhabi Ports, Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD) and the collaboration of the entities participating in preparing the MoU. At Higher Corporation for Specialized Economic Zones (ZonesCorp), we are happy to be part of this important initiative, which aims to create a suitable investment environment in support of the Emirate’s Economic sectors and their development, in fulfillment of the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision.”
H.E Al Khyeli added: “The participation of ZonesCorp in this MoU is part of its continuous efforts to position the Emirate of Abu Dhabi as the perfect investment platform and preferred regional destination for industrial investments, in an attempt to enrich investors’ experience as well as facilitate the procedure and exchange of expertise.”
“Signing MoUs between Abu Dhabi Ports’ KIZAD and a number of government entities, including the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI), would enhance cooperation amongst these organisations in terms of the quality of services being rendered to customers and partners, while improving their satisfaction,” His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Helal Al Muhairi, Director-General of the ADCCI, said.
“We hope for these agreements to help both facilitate procedures for customers and improve services being provided to them. This would boost customers’ confidence and save their time and effort,” Mr. Al Muhairi added, explaining that the strategic location and the advanced, state-of-the-art infrastructure enjoyed by the Khalifa Industrial City would be both channelled into the best interest of and properly utilized by operating companies and businesses. It would also make it easier for business owners and capitalists to launch their business readily and conveniently from KIZAD.
Eng. Amer Al Hammadi, Executive Director of the Corporate Services Sector at the Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities, said: “We’re delighted to be entering this agreement and opening the representative office with such an important and supportive partner.
He added that “This demonstrates the DPM’s commitment to collaborative and cooperative working with government entities and the private sector, as we all work towards our common goals, which are aligned to the Abu Dhabi Plan.
“Having taken this important step, we are also collectively reinforcing our significant role in helping achieve an effective balance between different economic indicators, and to make Abu Dhabi a global leader in sustainable living,” Eng. Al Hammadi concluded.
General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Abu Dhabi has confirmed that agreement aims to streamline services for customers, investors and visitors to the UAE. They also added that to enhance their services and attain the highest customer satisfaction while adhering to the highest standards of quality. Colonel Yusuf Ismail Al Khouri, Deputy Director General of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Abu Dhabi had signed the agreement during the ceremony.
Strategically located between the cities of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, KIZAD offers businesses outstanding access to regional and global markets through sea, air, road and future rail; world-class infrastructure; free zone and non-free zone solutions as well as dedicated investor support to connect businesses to more than 4.5 billion consumers.
The full list of online services is available at www.kizad.ae.
About Abu Dhabi Ports
Established in 2006, Abu Dhabi Ports, the master developer, operator and manager of commercial and community ports within the emirate of Abu Dhabi, in addition to the Port of Fujairah, as well as the trade and logistics hub, Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD), in which Khalifa Port Free Trade Zone attracts direct investments to over 100 km2 of free zone opportunities, the largest in the Middle East region.
Inaugurated on Dec 12, 2012 by President of the UAE, HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Khalifa Port is the flagship port of Abu Dhabi Ports and is considered to be the first semi-automated container port in the region. Abu Dhabi Ports also owns 50% of Abu Dhabi Terminals, which operates and manages Khalifa Port Container Terminal with a full suite of logistics solutions to benefit trade partners and shipping lines. In addition to the current capacity of 2.5 million TEUs, the recent deal Abu Dhabi Ports signed with COSCO SHIPPING Ports Limited, which is expected to commence operations by 2019, will raise the annual capacity to 6 million TEUs in both container terminals.
Abu Dhabi Ports’ subsidiaries include Abu Dhabi Marine Services “SAFEEN”, providing a comprehensive range of marine, navigational and ancillary quayside services as well as VTS Services and fleet maintenance in a safe, secure and efficient manner; Maqta Gateway, which operates an innovative port community system, facilitating online information flow between all the port stakeholders and customers; and Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal, the first permanent cruise terminal in the region. To meet the increasing demand of cruise liners and passengers, Sir Bani Yas Cruise Beach was developed, offerings cruise ship passengers a new beach destination with unmatched tourism experiences. Additionally, Abu Dhabi Ports also manages the Maritime Training Centre at Musaffah Port.
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