FMCG and Pharmaceutical trade in Jafza registers impressive average annual growth of 20% from 2001-2010

Jafza’s 6th Strategic Customer Forum draws senior industry leaders from the FMCG and Pharmaceutical industries

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Monday, September 19th 2011 [ME NewsWire]

Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) and Pharmaceutical companies based in Jafza generated trade worth AED 13.3 billion in 2010 compared to AED 2.8 billion in 2001, registering a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 20% in the last decade.

The figures reflect trade generated by sales in food products, toiletries, cosmetics, pharma products and other similar goods.

Jafza officials announced these figures at the 6th Strategic Customer Forum held specifically for Free Zone customers in the FMCG and Pharmaceutical Sectors. In 2000 there were 105 companies in the FMCG segment operating in Jafza. That number has since grown rapidly to 444 companies in July 2011.The number of Pharmaceutical companies during the same period has grown more than four folds rising from 59 in 2000 to 259 in July, 2011.

Talal Al Hashimi, Managing Director, EZW, UAE Region said: “The consumer market in the region is still growing, in line with growing demand and changing lifestyles despite the challenging market conditions and the economic downturn. The industry specific businesses based in Jafza have shown an impressive growth in 2010 after a slowdown in 2008 and 2009 and we are keen to help them maintain this momentum. The goal of this Strategic Customer Forum is to facilitate communication across the FMCG community and to share industry best practices. We are always learning from our clients, which enable us to develop new policies, streamline procedures, add new services and facilities and enhance existing ones. The Strategic Customer Forum creates an interactive environment to bolster this learning."

Senior officials from Jafza and partners including Dubai Customs, DP World, Environment Health and Safety (EHS) Department, Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Dubai Financial Market, Nasdaq Dubai and Ministry of Health collectively addressed queries and suggestions to improve operations and free zone effectiveness.

Corporate business heads and senior officials from Unilever, Nestle, Procter & Gamble Gulf, Quest Vitamins, Alokozay, Food Specialties Limited, Chalhoub Group, L’Oreal, Rasasi Perfumes, Sanofi Aventis, GlaxoSmithKline and other companies attended the event.

The Strategic Customer Forum was the sixth in a series of industry events initiated by Jafza to encourage dialogue with key clients. The first five forums were held for clients in the Logistics, Chemical/Oil & Gas, Automotive, Machinery & Equipment Manufacturing and Electronics and IT sectors.

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Contacts

Media contact:

Adeti Changulani,

Hasaad Communications

+971 50 429 5576

adeti.changulani@hasaad.ae