Eight Abu Dhabi government entities join KIZAD’s Business Centre

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, 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.

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.

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.

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 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.