World Expo Delegation Explores Supply Chain Capabilities of Dubai (UAE)

A delegation from the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the inter-governmental organisation overseeing World Expos, joined DP World customers and officials to hear and see first-hand the supply chain capabilities of the UAE as it bids to host the World Expo 2020 in Dubai.

The nine-member international team led by Mr Steen Christiansen, Chairman of the BIE Executive Committee, visited Jebel Ali port as part of its four-day enquiry mission to the UAE to assess the country’s ability to host the World Expo.

The delegation was received by HE Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman, DP World, HE Jamal Majid Bin Thaniah, Vice-Chairman, Mohammed Sharaf, Group CEO, DP World and Mohammed Al Muallem, Senior Vice-President and Managing Director, DP World-UAE Region.

The BIE delegates and Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State and Managing Director of the Higher Committee for hosting the World Expo 2020, joined DP World’s regular breakfast meeting with more than 50 of its customers, interacting directly with them, exchanging views and information about Dubai and its potential to handle the logistics of such an event. The meeting was followed by a tour of the port.

Welcoming the delegation and reiterating DP World’s support as an official partner of the bid campaign, His Excellency, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman DP World, said, “With our global portfolio and international “family” of 30,000 employees, DP World exemplifies the theme of the UAE Expo bid: ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’. The sub-themes of Mobility, Sustainability and Opportunity are also close to our heart. Here in Dubai, we provide mobility for business and trade through multi-modal access to global markets as a trusted and responsive partner to all those involved in the supply chain – and it’s a model we use in other parts of our global portfolio as well. Our experience is that as roads are built, rail connected and efficient sea and air ports established, people, the goods they produce, and the services they provide are given access to opportunities to connect locally and globally; trade prospers. And as people connect through trade, barriers come down, understanding between peoples grows. This is not defined by developing or developed economies – it is true of all economies.”

Mohammed Sharaf, Group Chief Executive Officer of DP World, said, “We welcome the visit of the BIE delegation to our flagship facility in Jebel Ali, which has played a pivotal role over the years in connecting the world with Dubai and Dubai with the world. State of the art facilities coupled with the remarkable and still fast growing infrastructure of Dubai make the city the perfect location for Expo 2020.”

Mohammed Al Muallem, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, DP World, UAE region, said, “We are delighted to facilitate interaction between the supply chain industry here and the BIE delegation, and to show the delegates Jebel Ali Port and it capabilities, including its sea, land and air connectivity, and the new expansions underway that will take capacity at the port to 19 million TEU by 2014. We work in close partnership with our customers and have established direct communication channels with them to better understand their needs and cater to their requirements.”

Deepak Babani, CEO of Eros Group, attending the breakfast, said, “The theme of World Expo is to bring culture and trade. Dubai has a diversity of cultures with people from all over the world residing in harmony. The excellent infrastructure built by Dubai, especially its ports, is ideal for trade and supporting world class logistics. Tourism expansion in Dubai has further added to its attraction as a tourist destination. I am quite confident that the emirate is the ideal choice for World Expo 2020.”

Vipen Sethi, CEO of Landmark Group, said, “The UAE is a global hub and a world-class destination well positioned to host World Expo 2020. Landmark Group has been headquartered in Dubai for over two decades and has received constant support from the Emirates and has benefitted from its focus on promoting progress and growth. As retailers we have witnessed the UAE host some of the best events in the country which has benefited businesses, residents and visitors. We truly believe that Dubai is uniquely poised to host World Expo 2020 and are pleased to support the efforts to bring it here.”

Dubai is competing against four other cities including Ayutthaya in Thailand, Sao Paulo in Brazil, Yekaterinburg in Russia and Izmir in Turkey. The winning city will be announced in November this year following a vote by the 163 member nations of the BIE.

[mappress]

DP World, February 28, 2013