Gallega Global Logistics opens new facility in Abu Dhabi
Top officials during the opening ceremony in Abu Dhabi.
The facility was inaugurated at a ceremony attended by senior representatives from Abu Dhabi Ports and KIZAD, as well as senior representatives of other industries in the UAE. Gallega’s leased facility in KIZAD coincides with an increased presence of both logistics and automotive in the industrial zone where several leading industry players operate.
Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, the CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports, said: “KIZAD is rapidly expanding as more and more companies see the value of having a presence here, especially in the fields of logistics, manufacturing and trading enterprises. Since its inception, KIZAD has already attracted a wide arrange of industries, including aluminium, packaging, food processing, polymers, and, of course, automotive.”
Speaking on the occasion, Ghassan Aboud, Chairman of the Ghassan Aboud Group said, “The UAE has been very dear to our hearts. We started our business here 25 years ago and have grown from a small auto trading business to a large multi-business group”. He further added, “Gallega will be a partner to KIZAD and Abu Dhabi Ports attracting more businesses who will benefit from our strategic location. Large manufacturing projects will increase the need for logistics and other services in the coming years.”
Gallega’s facility at the zone offers finished vehicle logistics, general warehousing, automobile workshop, customs clearance and transportation services, geared primarily towards regional distributors, dealers and global original equipment manufacturers (OEM). In addition to its operation in KIZAD, Gallega has hubs in Belgium and Jordan.
Shirish Deshpande, Chief Executive Officer of Gallega, said: “Gallega’s new facility provides us with the ability to deliver outstanding levels of service to our customers in the region. Our comprehensive range of services, backed by experience and infrastructure, will exceed customer expectations. Our ambition is to become a key player in the regional logistics landscape and our presence in KIZAD is very strategic to our growth plans.”
Part of the Ghassan Aboud Group, a conglomerate founded in 1994, the Gallega operations have been serving the Group’s operating companies with integrated logistics solutions and supply chain engineering for more than two decades. Gallega manages vehicle yards, spare parts warehouse, shipping, customs documentation and related logistics and ships products to more than 100 countries.
The company also offers end-to-end supply chain solutions for global customers in air, sea and land freight forwarding, land transportation to GCC and the Levant, as well as customs bonded warehousing and customs and VAT documentation.
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, His Highness 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. Abu Dhabi Ports has signed concession agreements at Khalifa Port with two of the world’s largest shipping lines - COSCO SHIPPING Ports Limited and MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company. Abu Dhabi Ports plans to expand the current capacity at Khalifa Port from 5 million TEU (total capacity of Khalifa Port terminal 1 and CSP Abu Dhabi Terminal) to 9.1 million TEU over the next five years.
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, developer and operator of the first port community in the emirate; 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.
Business Bureau, Gulf Today
