The Dubai Flower Centre (DFC), the only state-of-the-art transshipment facility for perishable goods in the region, is well poised to tap the Indian flower export market, which is expected to exceed $1 billion by 2010.

Ibrahim Ahli, DFC marketing director, said: “Geographical location and superior infrastructure are two major factors that will favour Indian exporters if they decide to use the 180,000-tonnes-per-year-capacity DFC, which went operational in July this year.”
DFC can act as a hub for Indian growers and traders so that they can reach out to regional, European and American markets, Ahli said, adding that facilities at the DFC catered not just to flowers but anything perishable and needing a cool chain process such as fruits, vegetables and fresh meat or fish.
Ahli visited India and met with federal and state government officials. He held wide-ranging discussions with flower growers and exporters of various states.
The visit took place during the Second International Flora Expo 2006 held in New Delhi. Ahli met among others K S Money, chairman, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda); Nadeem Ahmed, president, South India, Floriculture Association and managing director of CCL Flowers Ltd; R D Reddy, managing director, Meghna Floritech Ltd; Prasad, managing director, Blooms and Greens Pvt Ltd, and Srinivas Khaza, managing director, Rosette Agrotech Ltd.
DFC officials say that as the centre is less than four hours by air from India, exporters can easily send their products to European markets. Being a duty-free zone, Indian exporters do not need to pay customs duty for cargo in transit. However, by paying a five per cent customs duty, exporters can also send their products directly to any GCC country through the DFC.
By setting up operations in the DFC, farmers from India’s major floriculture and horticulture areas can take advantage of Dubai’s connectivity to global markets.