China invests heavily in Dubai food hub

By RJ Whitehead

- Last updated on GMT

China invests heavily in Dubai food hub

Related tags Food

Dubai Food Park will feature a Chinese food processing cluster following a pledge to invest AED1.35bn (US$367m) by Ningxia Forward Fund Management Company.

The Gulf's biggest food manufacturing campus, which is being developed on a 48m square foot site at a cost of AED5.5bn (US$1.5bn), is aimed at boosting Dubai’s status as a regional hub for the food sector.

Ninxia's investment will serve to increase China’s stake in the Middle East's food industry and expand bilateral relations further, reported state news agency Wam.

Spread over 4.38m square feet, the China-UAE Food Industrial cluster will be home to 30 food plants, including two Chinese catering companies and two advanced manufacturing plants for food packaging materials.

The project is scheduled to be completed 24 months after it begins construction, and will also feature cold chain storage facilities.

Food processing will be the cluster's main focus, with at least three quarters of the total project area allocated for factories.

Abdulla Belhoul, who signed the agreement with Ningxia, said the deal has come at an important time as the world faces an urgent global need to enhance collaboration on food security by increasing the physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food.

"The partnership marks a step forward in strengthening bilateral relations at various levels, particularly trade and economic relations between the UAE and China​," he said.

Abdulla Al Habbai, chairman of Dubai Holding, added: "The partnership between DFP and the Chinese firm reflects the global interest in entering Dubai, and the UAE markets will benefit from the country’s world-class ground, marine and aerial infrastructure, as well as its strategic location at the crossroads between East and West​.

"Through this new synergy, we aspire to cement long-standing relations with China to ensure sustainable development of both our countries​."

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