Jebel Ali Free Zone maintains its leadership role as the leading regional free zone par excellence in a year when its productivity increased and a growth rate of 7 per cent was reported. As Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman of the Jafz and managing director of Dubai Ports Authority (DPA) emphasised, "it is our commitment to customer-driven services that is the key to continued success."

With no room for complacency in this highly competitive market, Jafz adopts a proactive policy of continuous heavy investment in infrastructure to meet the productivity demands of its increasing client base. Four new state-of-the-art cranes have recently been commissioned to meet the demands of shipping lines to enhance turnaround time for vessels using the port. Despite its great size, DPA/Jafz is receptive and alert to the needs of its clients and adopts a zero-tolerance bureaucracy approach within its business model. With a turnover of $9 billion a year, and 1800 companies at Jafz, company management is planning ahead with detailed development projects without compromising efficiency, safety and competitiveness.

As Bin Sulayem emphasized, the fabric of the industrial sector is changing quickly away from services and more to manufacturing and large-scale inventories and there is increasing demand for bulk services. Thus DPA/Jafz must meet these changing sectoral requirements. Global International is an autonomous operation dealing in port management and maritime services and is expanding its range of expertise working at the container terminals at Beirut, Jeddah Islamic Port and Djibouti. It is a fine balance meeting the business requirements of companies and the security aspects of all port services in terms of documentation and customs clearance.

Bin Sulayem is optimistic about the continued growth potential as the market matures and quality services are increasingly more valued and important. DPA/Jafz has a tradition of being receptive to its clients and a long-term approach committed to enhancing its services provision to meet the demands of the market.

The recent exhibition in Libya in which DPA/Jafz participated emphasises the proactive nature of the organisation. However, these bilateral discussions develop, the UAE has much to offer Libya, and DPA through Global International is in pole position to assist with port development should the need arise.

Within Jafz itself the 1800 companies established are a sizeable critical mass and its success is spawning a buffer zone around the free zone with supporting industries. The phenomenal growth of the free zone is inspiring, particularly when witnessing the rate of growth and the grand vision behind the facilities. More companies are establishing themselves in the free zone and during 2000 57 German companies, 117 from the UK, 51 from France and 130 from the US have established offices and facilities.

The Jafz industrial area adjacent to the free zone complements Jafz and provides greater logistics for business-to-business dealings.

An increasing number of high-technology companies are also selecting Dubai and are positive about the benefits of the free zone. Nevertheless, the DPA/Jafz management must work hard to deliver infrastructural services, facilities and innovative ideas for the benefit of its clients. Everything that has been achieved is based on hard work, thorough cost-benefit analysis and meticulous planning. The entire enterprise is extremely well run and organised but beats to the needs of its international client base. As Bin Sulayem says, "we are service led and we must work hard to maximise the benefits we offer our business partners."

The Jebel Free Zone, flanked by large and emerging markets to the West and East, is gaining fame as a burgeoning manufacturing area and one of the world's top transshipment centres. Progressive UAE policies and the Dubai leadership make it possible for the free zone to become an even more busy and productive hub in accordance with the vision of its planners. And considering the gathering pace of investment and manufacturing activities and the potential to re-export, the attention being paid to modernise port facilities is not surprising.

Jebel Ali Port, the world's largest man-made port, is already a busy hub with the most modern facilities. In line with the requirements of business establishments already in place and those planned in the near future, Jebel Ali Port has expanded remarkably and is equipped to handle the largest container ships, ro-ro vessels, bulk carriers and general and specialised cargo vessels.

Continuously updated cargo-handling facilities mean that Jebel Ali enterprises will receive their raw material and see off their exports as rapidly as an efficient system will allow.

Dubai Ports Authority has plunged itself into the thick of information technology, having recently introduced "My DPA", a software that will take it to new heights, as well as the web-enabled shipping solution "Afsys". It is already being served by an electronic manifest system that is part of a plan for paperless cargo clearance in the near future. With 67 berths alongside 15km of quayside as well as storage facilities including a 42,500 cu m Lloyds-approved cold store which can store 7,000 tonnes of frozen and perishable commodities, Jebel Ali is the envy of free zones in the region.

In the best traditions of free zones, the manufacturing concerns within its premises are backed by a host of support services Ñ- banks and financial services, computer providers and advertising and public relations agencies.

Dubai itself has some of the finest hotel and leisure facilities along with shopping arcades that match the best in the world. Important support services are the state-of-the-art telecommunications network and airport facilities. A hallmark of Dubai's importance as a commercial centre is the smooth sea-air transportation of cargo.

Jebel Ali Free Zone has gained the reputation of being a gathering place for entrepreneurs from countries near and far. Enterprises that would be difficult to launch in the home countries have found fertile ground in Jebel Ali, thanks to a nurturing and enlightened leadership. Incentives like the absence of personal taxes and a government guarantee that there will be no corporate taxes for companies established in the zone for a period of 15 years, a concession that's renewable, have encouraged the decisions of many an overseas company to move to the free zone.