Ahmad Al Haddad and Rabbi Ahron Haskel signing the Memorandum of Understanding.

Jafza, the flagship freezone of DP World, UAE Region, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UAE-based STAR-K Kosher Certification to educate its partners in the food and agricultural commodities sector about kosher certification, aiding them to get certified as kosher. The MoU was signed by Ahmad Al Haddad, Chief Operating Officer, Parks and Zones, DP World, UAE Region and Rabbi Ahron Haskel, President, STAR-K Kosher Certification in the Middle East, Europe and Africa, in the presence of Rabbi Yanki Hoffman, Vice President, STAR-K Kosher Certification in the Middle East, Europe and Africa.

DP World, UAE Region’s strategically located logistics hub comprising the Jebel Ali Port and Jafza caters to all segments of the food and agriculture industry including food processing, grain/cereal processing, meat processing, edible oil processing, tea/coffee processing and sugar refining. With its premium facilities, Jafza is a preferred destination for import and export of products like sugar, meat, cocoa, dairy products, coffee, tea, fruits, spices and other goods.

Jafza has a dedicated food and agriculture cluster of 1.57 million square metres with over 550 companies from more than 70 countries, employing over 6,000 people. 38 per cent of these companies are from the Middle East, 23 per cent from Asia, 19 per cent from Europe, 10 per cent from Africa, 8 per cent from North America, 1 per cent from South America and 1 per cent from Oceania.

Ahmad Al Haddad, Chief Operating Officer, Parks and Zones, DP World, UAE Region said, “The UAE is a melting pot of cultures. The country is home to people from various countries and is accepting of traditions from varied cultures. With the recent developments between the UAE and Israel, we expect the demand for kosher food to be on the rise. We are delighted to team up with STAR-K Kosher Certification. Through this partnership, we hope to utilise their expertise from time to time by hosting digital and physical seminars for our clients. With this endeavour, we hope to enlighten our partners in the free zone about the benefits of getting a kosher certification.”

Rabbi Ahron Haskel, President, STAR-K Kosher Certification said, “STAR-K Kosher Certification has provided kosher supervision for over fifty years. Over the years, we have gained the reputation of providing prompt service with the help of our team of experts including technical staff, administrators, food scientists and field supervisors. It is important, especially now, in light of the Israel-UAE peace agreement, to make entities in the food industry aware of the added value of kosher-certified products not only for the Jewish community here, but also for anyone looking for healthy and halal-compliant options.”

With smart services like Dubai Trade’s “E-Delivery Order” that allows supply chain stakeholders to handle their complex import processes to ZADI, an innovative unified food import platform aimed at facilitating the import and re-export of food shipments throughout Dubai ports, Jafza has made it easier for investors and business owners in times of the pandemic by minimising the need for manual transactions and personal visits.

Jafza is one of the world’s leading free trade zones and is home to over 8,000 multinational companies. Jafza accounts for 23.9 per cent of total FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) flow  into Dubai, sustaining the employment of more than 135,000 people in the United Arab Emirates. In 2019, Jafza generated trade worth $99.5 billion.

Jafza is the leading business hub between Asia, Europe and Africa, connecting some of the fastest-growing manufacturing and consumer markets globally. With over 30 years’ experience, Jafza focuses on long-term customer relationships, building alliances with global investors and providing world-class infrastructure and support. In addition to quality-driven value-added services and incentives, Jafza is a business opportunity enabler, offering its customers easy and efficient access to substantial business opportunities in the region.

Meanwhile, the DP World’s port-centric logistics arm Smart Solution Logistics (SSL) has signed an agreement with Israel-based Allalouf Logistics to explore new growth opportunities for the logistics and general freight forwarding business in the UAE and Israel.

The agreement, which will foster trade between key trade hubs in both countries and beyond, was signed by Albert Kraak, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of SSL and Gil Miller, Managing Director, Allalouf Logistics Ltd.

Strategically located in Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port with excellent connectivity to terminals at the port, DP World’s SSL offers an extensive range of containerised logistics solutions.

The freight and logistics market in the UAE has grown steadily over the years, surpassing other major industries. It is recognised as a crucial enabler in the UAE’s economic diversification efforts.

According to the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority, the logistics sector’s gross output amounted to Dhs219 billion in 2018. Additionally, the sector’s contribution to the UAE’s GDP is projected to increase by 8 per cent in 2021.