Dubai World Central Targets Chinese Companies as Part of Ongoing Drive to Attract Foreign Investment

Dubai-UAE: 07 July, 2015 - Dubai World Central’s Business Park Free Zone has concluded a series of B2B meetings with selected companies in China as part of its sustained drive to attract foreign investment.

The delegation from DWC’s Business Park Free Zone visited three Chinese cities - Beijing, Chengdu and Taiyuan - as part of its exclusive B2B outreach program. LPT Management Consultancy, an ambitious, innovative company established in Dubai, partnered with Dubai World Central to facilitate the meetings.

Commenting on the outcome, Paolo Serra, VP, Business Park, Dubai World Central said: “Dubai World Central is Dubai’s largest urban development project - an ecosystem that will ultimately support one million people - and we are keen to see China well represented here. Currently, we have over 2,500 companies based at DWC and the objective of this tour was to demonstrate the exciting value proposition Dubai World Central holds for Chinese businesses.

“During this visit, we chose to focus on meetings with specific companies from China’s perishables, logistics and general trading sectors, who are also looking to expand their operations in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia region. With that in mind, we held fruitful one-on-one meetings with several business prospects. We look forward to growing their intent and interest.” 

Bilateral economic ties between the UAE and China are witnessing an upward growth trend with the country maintaining its status as the UAE’s second largest trading partner, with trade volume reaching US$54.8 billion in 2014, according to Emirates News Agency (WAM).

The China meetings are the latest in a series of international outreach initiatives planned by Dubai World Central to attract foreign investments. Earlier this year, its business delegation toured Italy. In 2013, visits to New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru were part of its agenda to attract investors from India.

An increasing number of foreign investors are setting up operations at Dubai World Central to leverage its growing business ecosystem that centers on the Al Maktoum International Airport (AMIA). Located around 50 kilometers away from Dubai International Airport, AMIA is currently undergoing a US$32 billion expansion, and is designed to become a next generation airport. Once complete, the emirate’s second airport will spread over 56 square kilometers with capacity to handle more than 200 million passengers and 16 million tons of cargo per year.

The Al Maktoum International Airport received its first passenger flight in 2013, while cargo operations began in 2010. As operations at the airport grow, the destination is anticipated to generate powerful business, employment and investment opportunities.