World Air Cargo Forum to hear Dubai's logistics hub case

Hundreds of delegates expected at the World Air Cargo Forum, which opens in Dubai tomorrow, are to hear of the emirate's growing standing as an international logistics and supply chain hub.

Due to address the forum is Dubai Logistics City CEO, Michael Proffitt, who aims to convince some of the world's leading players that locating to Dubai is a keen business move.

'Dubai is a growing hub for air cargo because of the increasing globalisation of trade and manufacturing and businesses increasingly require air cargo within their global supply chains. The geographic location of Dubai helps to link Asia, Africa and Europe,'

said Proffitt.

'Moreover, having studied the demographics for the region for the coming years, we are extremely confident of Dubai's hub status success, particularly taking into consideration the restructuring of supply chains which is currently taking place.

'While global trade is increasing at a constant and healthy rate, the greater region in reach of Dubai - that is the Middle East, Africa, the southern CIS countries and the Sub-continent, can expect even higher growth. This is particularly true of India which can realistically expect to secure a very significant share of the US $110 billion global outsourcing market by 2010. Dubai's proximity to this trade stands it in good stead.

'Within the next 20-30 years, another billion consumers will be added due to the growth of population. This fact will ensure that economic growth in this greater region will be steady and long lasting.'

Meanwhile, Proffitt announced to World Air Cargo Forum delegates that grading work for the first 4.5 kilometre long runway at Dubai Logistics City is now complete.

'Construction of the runway, which will be wide enough to accommodate the new Airbus A380 superjumbo, will begin next month,' he said.

DLC, which is the first phase of the new Jebel Ali Airport City (JAAC), a huge, mixed-use aviation city, is an integral part of the world's first, integrated logistics and multi-modal transport platform, which has DLC, Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone and the new Jebel Ali International Airport (JXB) at its core.

Spread over 25 square kilometres, DLC will begin operating at the end of 2007. It will be adjacent to the new Jebel Ali International Airport and is designed to eventually handle more than 12 million tons of air cargo annually in up to 16 air cargo terminals.

Meanwhile JAAC was given a major boost at the World Air Cargo Forum with the unveiling of a new exhibition stand devoted to this mammoth new industry initiative.

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