UAE calls on global investors to benefit from its business-friendly environment

Dr Sultan Al Jaber discusses support for industry on visit to Enviroserve and Unilever factories in Dubai Industrial City

Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, visits Enviroserve and Unilever's factories in Dubai Industrial City. Photo: Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology

The UAE has urged global investors and industrialists to capitalise on its business-friendly environment that could help them achieve their manufacturing and export goals, as part of a strategy to support priority industrial sectors and attract investments.

The Emirates is seeing “significant development” in its plans to become a leading destination for global industrial companies and investment, Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, said during his visits to industrial companies in Dubai.

Dr Al Jaber visited electronic waste company Enviroserve and the Unilever factory, both located in Dubai Industrial City, where he was briefed on their international expansion plans.

The visits are part of the ministry's efforts to communicate directly with companies in the sector, follow up on innovative projects and continue to foster an environment that contributes to improving the sector’s success, the ministry said on Wednesday.

“Through these visits, we aim to discuss ways to provide a supportive business environment for local and international investors in the industrial sector, in line with the ministry’s strategy to transform the UAE into a major hub for future industries and advanced industries, as well as assist in opening up new regional and global markets to UAE-made products,” Dr Al Jaber said.

Dubai Industrial City is attracting global projects by providing the environment and solutions that support their growth, confirming the UAE industrial sector's ability to attract quality investments, he said.

The UAE, the Arab world’s second-largest economy, plans to increase the contribution of the industrial sector to its gross domestic product in the next 10 years to create jobs and attract investment.

Last year, the UAE announced Operation 300bn, which aims to more than double the contribution of the industrial sector to economic output to Dh300 billion ($81.68bn) by 2031, from Dh133bn in March 2021.

The ideas and operations of leading companies can assist the ministry's efforts to raise the industrial sector’s contribution to the national economy, and enhance the UAE’s global position as an destination for investment, it said.

“We invite all investors and industrialists to benefit from the substantial competitive advantages available in the UAE, which give them the opportunity to realise their ambitions in manufacturing, developing and exporting their products,” Dr Al Jaber said. The ministry engages in direct communication with all of its partners in the advanced industrial sector, he said.

Enviroserve recycles and processes electronic and electrical waste and equipment, and disposes of information technology assets, refrigerants and specialised waste.

The company has expanded from the UAE to new markets in Africa, the Middle East and the Caucasus region.

Its recycling model helps to make the industrial sector “more environmental friendly without affecting its growth”, said chief executive Lyes Yahiaoui.

Unilever's factory in Dubai Industrial City produces nearly 400 brands, making it the largest manufacturer of liquid personal care products in the Middle East and North Africa. It is also the company's regional headquarters for Mena, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Turkey.

The factory has delivered an 84 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions from energy along with a 22 per cent energy consumption reduction (per tonne of production), with 90 per cent of effluent reused, said Sanjiv Kakkar, regional executive vice president.

“We are now focused towards achieving Unilever commitment to net zero emissions by 2030,” he said.

Dubai Industrial City, part of Tecom Group, has attracted regional and international players in the industrial and logistics sector, and promoted the export of UAE-made products to international markets, Malek Al Malek, director general of the Dubai Development Authority and group chief of Tecom Group, said.