Jafza International (JI), a subsidiary of Economic Zones World, inaugurated Phase II of its Djibouti Free Zone (DFZ) project comprising the development of light industrial units, warehouses and office facilities.

The Prime Minister of Djibouti, Mohamed Dileita, and Jafza International’s managing director, Chuck Heath, performed the inauguration which coincided with the celebrations of the 30th anniversary of the independence of the country falling on the 27th of June.
In his remarks on the occasion, the prime minister said: “Djibouti is really proud about its partnership with Jafza International and the development of the Djibouti Free Zone project.”
“We believe in this partnership to build together the economic success of Djibouti,” he added.
Heath said: “Djibouti’s strategic location and stability, coupled with Jafza International’s proficiency in managing the free zone, has made it possible for us to witness this day. The expansion of our vision in Djibouti, which goes beyond this free zone, is a testament to our commitment to the people of Djibouti, and our shared future.
“Our mission in Djibouti is to position the free zone as the regional logistics, distribution and marketing hub for the import, warehousing, processing, and re-export of goods to and from eastern African countries.”
Heath said Jafza International was committed to the expansion of its operations in Djibouti. “In addition to the Phase II development of this free zone, we are working on the development of a pioneering project on the African continent by providing an air-sea-land trade link for neighboring land-locked states through an airport free zone, and another SEZ in the near future,” he said.
The Free Zone’s phase II project comprises 280,700 sq ft of space for light industrial units and warehousing facilities, and 23,000 sq ft of office space. The free zone today houses 79 companies, with over half of the office space and a quarter of the warehousing facilities booked even before beginning of construction.
The Djibouti Free Zone, which was started under the management and operations of Jafza International in 2004, is located on 32 hectares with over 120,000 sq ft of warehousing facilities.
Economic Zone World’s parent company, Dubai World, is by far the largest UAE investor in Djibouti, with a portfolio exceeding $800 million.  Apart from free zone operator Jafza International, Dubai World subsidiaries DP World, Dubai Customs World and Nakheel Hotels & Resorts have major stakes in Djibouti’s development.
DP World operates the Djibouti seaport. DC World has modernised Djibouti Customs and is managing it with considerable success, while Nakheel opened the country’s first five-star hotel and resort, the Kempinski Djibouti Palace, last November, on a high note by hosting a major conference of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).
Businesses within the Djibouti Free Zone are engaged in the trading of food and beverages, construction material, automobiles and spare parts, cigarettes, textile and garments, among other things, whereas light industrial activities in the free zone include production of medical gases, LPG bottling and manufacture of food products. Services in the zone include express cargo handlers, credit support activities and logistics companies.
Dignitaries present at the inauguration included Abdulrahman Boreh, chairman, Djibouti Port and Free Zone Authority (DPFZA), and Mrs Zainab Kamel Ali, director of administration at DPFZA.
Jafza International is the international arm of Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (Jafza). It was established in 2000 to exclusively manage Jafza's international operations.
JI currently operates free zones in Morocco, Djibouti and Malaysia, and has signed MoUs with government authorities in Salalah (Oman), Senegal in Africa and Incheon in South Korea for developing free zones in their respective territories. It is currently pursuing a number of projects, which are in various stages of development across Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe and is today recognised as a pioneer in the development, management, administration, IT and logistical operations of economic zones around the world. 
Besides JI’s success in taking the business internationally and helping in the set-up, management and operations of free zones worldwide, it provides a wide range of consulting services, depending on the requirements of the client and the development phase of the site in question. Services range from technical advisory to comprehensive consulting studies and quick opportunity assessment to a complete master planning study of the site. These studies include market assessments, implementation plans, technical and financial feasibilities, pricing strategies and capital projections.