Five major projects costing Dh800 million have already been completed and another two mega infrastructure developments will be ready by next month, Dr Rashid Al Leem, Director-General, Hamriyah Free Zone Authority, told Khaleej Times on the sidelines of a function to celebrate the completion of mega projects at the free zone.

“This is an important moment in HFZA’s history. We were able to successfully complete five mega infrastructure projects including of the Inner Harbor development. Achieving this on time and on budget, without any disruption to our current operations is a milestone in its own right. These long-term projects will benefit HFZ investors and Hamriyah Port users,” Dr Rashid said.

He said two more projects worth Dh200 million approximately will be completed by end of July.

“Free Zone Interchange costing Dh120 million will be ready by mid-July while 48 big warehouses will also be completed by next month,” he said.

Dr Rashid said more than 4,800 companies have been operating at Hamriyah Free Zone. He said the free zone recorded a 20 per cent growth in past two years despite difficult time on economic front due to global financial crisis.

Exploring new markets

In reply to a question, he said Hamriyah Free Zone Authority is exploring new markets to maintain a steady growth rate in days to come.

“We are now focusing on African markets at the moments and the free zone attracts investors from Libya, South Africa, Ethiopia and Tunis,” he said adding that Asia will remain the key market for the free zone.

He said investors and entrepreneurs from Germany, Italy and United Kingdom have also set up industrial units at the free zone.

“We are working on two more projects that will be announced shortly as their feasibility studies are at final stages,” Dr Rashid said. He said work on these projects would start by year-end.

Major infrastructure projects

Earlier, T.V.Ramesh, Director Finance and Strategic Planning, HFZA, gave a presentation on five mega projects completed at the free zone. Valued at over Dh800 million ($217 million), the major projects include development of Inner Harbor Phase 3 & 4, Road Works Phase 1 & 2 and an ergonomically designed Labour Accommodation Complex to support the housing needs of investor’s fast growing work force.

He said two basins were also added in the Hamriyah Inner Harbour and its depth varies from minus nine metres to minus five metres. The project also included addition of a 3.8 kilometres of quay wall and additional breakwater spanning.

With the completion of these two phases, he said Hamriyah Free Zone can now easily accommodate LPG and bulk handling vessels to match international standards and needs.

Furthermore, the new road network adds 80 kilometers of new roads to the existing HFZA road network, providing easy access to all areas of the free zone, he added. 
 Later, Dr Rashid presented the awards to HFZA partners and investors. The companies which were acknowledged Six Construct, Halcrow International Partnership, RAD International, Sharjah General Contracting, Unger Steel, Ibtikari and major financial institutions such as BNP Paribas and HSBC.

Special certificates of appreciation and awards were presented to the partner companies in recognition of their outstanding cooperation in executing these projects.

Dr. Julius Lauritsch, the Ambassador of Austria in the UAE and Mr. Wolfgang Penzias, Trade Commissioner of Austria have also attended the event. 


muzaffarrizvi@khaleejtimes.com