OBG's interview with Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO Of Abu Dhabi Ports

The maritime and logistics industry still offers plenty of opportunities for growth, despite the current challenging economic climate, Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO, Abu Dhabi Ports, told Oxford Business Group’s digital broadcasting channel, Global Platform.

Speaking in a wide-ranging interview broadcast on the online platform, Al Shamisi told viewers that given the tough operating environment, Abu Dhabi Ports, like other operators worldwide, had sharpened its focus on efficiency by investing in technology. “We are still seeing growth,” he told Global Platform. “Both the Ro-Ro business and general & bulk cargo segment are growing in double digits, but we have to be conscious, too, of our costs and how we optimise and run our operations.”

In the interview, which can be viewed here, Al Shamisi highlighted the advantages offered by the world-class port infrastructure and state-of-the-art facilities to operators looking to roll out at industrial free zones nearby, saying their development went “side by side”. He noted that Khalifa Industrial Zone, which is attached to the port in Abu Dhabi, was served by three international airports and modern truck roads, while future plans should see the hub linked to other GCC countries by rail. 

“Free zone trade requires easy access and connectivity,” he told Global Platform. “But having the infrastructure is not enough. You also need to be served by shipping lines and have direct access.” A business-friendly environment helped to further boost competitiveness, he noted.

“Our new Khalifa Port Free Trade Zone (KPFTZ) is introduced right in time, to cater to the growing demand for more free zone space. It represents the next generation platform for trade, logistics and manufacturing, spanning a total area of 100 sq km across both Area ‘A’ and Area ‘B’.”

Al Shamisi said Khalifa Port was already holding its own on both the regional and international stage, even though it had been set up primarily to support Abu Dhabi’s economic expansion. “… we are part of the global world, yet there is so much potential within Abu Dhabi and the UAE,” he said. “This is where we see the growth for Khalifa Port, in terms of both volumes of containers and different types of commodities.”

“The major expansion plan for the container terminal at Khalifa Port will add 1000 metres of quay wall by mid-2018, which means an additional 600,000 sqm for cargo handling, while our recent deal with COSCO SHIPPING Ports Limited is expected to commence operations at the new container terminal in 2018 with an initial annual capacity of 2.4 million TEUs. Once all phase are complete, the annual handling capacity will increase to 3.5 million TEUs, creating a new overall annual capacity of up to 6 million TEUs in both container terminals,” he elaborated. 

Neslihan Aydagül, managing director of Global Platform, said the interview would be of great interest to both industry players and the broader investment community, giving viewers a valuable take on several topical issues, such as the part that integrated ports and industrial zones could play in persuading businesses to consolidate their operations in one hub that offers a hybrid model of free zone and non-free zone solutions.

“Our conversation with Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi confirms that while the maritime industry faces several challenges, hubs benefiting from a strategic location, modern infrastructure and strong regional connectivity can still deliver a robust performance,” she added.

Aydagül said the video also highlighted the pivotal role that Global Platform was playing as a provider of cutting edge interviews with business leaders on important issues facing global markets. Visits to the channel have already topped 927,000 in the last 12 months, she noted, with the number still rising.