Lord Davies of Abersoch, the British Minister for Trade, Investment and Small Business, visited the DP World head office yesterday (Wednesday March 10), meeting with Mohammed Sharaf, DP World Chief Executive Officer and  Mohammed Al Muallem, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of DP World, UAE Region.

 

Also attending were HE Edward Oakden, British Ambassador to the UAE, and HE Guy Warrington, the British Consul General in Dubai.

 

Lord Davies, who is leading a 70-strong SME business delegation on an official visit to the UAE, also toured Jebel Ali Port, DP World’s flagship facility.

 

Britain is the leading international investor in the UAE which is its largest trading partner in the Middle East. There are about 400 British-owned companies established in the Jebel Ali Free Zone, involved in a range of business activities from trading to manufacturing.

 

Mohammed Sharaf, Chief Executive Officer, DP World, said:

 “Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone have played a crucial role in facilitating the growth of British businesses both in the UAE and across the region. The UK is an important partner in our global business operations. We thank Lord Davies and the delegates accompanying him for the interest they have shown in expanding trade with the UAE. We are confident their visit will help in further strengthening these ties.”

 

Ahead of his visit, Lord Davies, the British Minister for Trade, Investment and Small Business, said:

“At the end of last year, the UK and UAE Governments made a commitment to increasing our bilateral trade to £12 billion by 2015, a 60 per cent increase from current levels. I hope this visit moves us a step closer to achieving our new trade targets.”

 

Lord Davies’ visit to DP World follows that of Lord Peter Mandelson, the British Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills, in February.

 

 

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About DP World

 

DP World is one of the largest marine terminal operators in the world, with 49 terminals and 12 new developments across 31 countries(1).  Its dedicated, experienced and professional team of nearly 30,000 people serves customers in some of the most dynamic economies in the world. 

 

DP World aims to enhance customers’ supply chain efficiency by effectively managing container, bulk and other terminal cargo. 

 

The company constantly invests in terminal infrastructure, facilities and people, working closely with customers and business partners to provide quality services today and tomorrow, when and where customers need them.

 

In taking this customer-centric approach, DP World is building on the established relationships and superior level of service demonstrated at its flagship Jebel Ali facility in Dubai, which has been voted “Best Seaport in the Middle East” for 15 consecutive years.

 

In 2009, DP World handled more than 43.4 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent container units) across its portfolio from the Americas to Asia – a decline of 6% over 2008. With a pipeline of expansion and development projects in key growth markets, including India, China and the Middle East, capacity is expected to rise to around 95 million TEU over the next ten years. 

 

www.dpworld.com

 

(1)  As of January 2010.