The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) and Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation between the two parties. The agreement will see the two entities simplify the environmental permit process for projects of industrial, commercial and light industry based out of Kizad. This is will be done through a One Stop Shop (‘OSS’) that will deliver all services required by its investors who are setting up their projects in Kizad, and process all required government authorities applications and approvals on their behalf.
The MoU was signed by H.E. Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, EAD’s Secretary General, and Engineer Khaled Salmeen Al Kuwari, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Kizad at EAD offices.
This MoU is in line with the efforts of both parties to provide a clear, effective, and efficient framework for the on-going environmental management of Kizad and its investors; and to establish a clear protocol for the environmental permitting of industrial, commercial, light industrial, as well as all other types of projects that EAD may be responsible for permitting, for all free zone and non-free zone projects located within Kizad.
H.E. Al Mubarak praised Kizad’s One Stop Shop (‘OSS’) saying: “It offers 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.”
Engineer Khaled Salmeen Al Kuwari, Kizad’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, emphasized the importance of Kizad continuing to work with relevant organisations within its ongoing quest to facilitate the establish businesses at Kizad. He said: “One of our priorities at Kizad is to provide full support to investors and this MoU is just another step towards achieving our promise to our investors. Kizad is working in coordination with the relevant government bodies to achieve the vision of Abu Dhabi’s leadership and economic diversification according to the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030.”
Serve as an interface and intermediary between EAD and the investors who are interested in establishing a presence in Kizad,
Review all submissions to EAD by Kizad investors for completeness, and,
Monitor the status of all Kizad investor submissions made to EAD while maintaining and submitting to EAD a monthly report to identify key improvement areas to the permitting process pursuant to this MOU.
Kizad will also issue and reference Technical Review Forms for all Kizad investor submissions while tracking and maintaining a document management system for all submissions and responses, as well as develop and maintain an approved Environmental Management System.
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.
Respond to Kizad investors with regards to their applications submitted through OSS within the agreed review timelines, Monitor all investors throughout their establishment process to ensure compliance with all licensing and permitting requirements, Apply penalties (as provided by law) to non-compliant Kizad investors, inform Kizad of any breach of environmental laws or regulations in order for Kizad to apply the appropriate sanctions, Provide training to Kizad’s employees so that they become more familiar with EAD’s environmental permitting process
The MoU covers each phase of the environmental permitting process including the Environmental Permit Application (EPA), the construction and operational activities, decommissioning, and all related permits, technical and administrative modifications, and renewals. The agreement will continue for a period of one year from the date it was signed, and shall be automatically renewed for the same period, unless terminated by either party.