São Paulo – Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad) held a webinar with the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) this Tuesday (22) to provide information to Brazilian business people and executives on how the industrial zone can help develop their business in the region.
The commercial director at Kizad, Khalid Al Marzooqi (pictured above), spoke to Brazilians about the industrial, logistics, and trade centers in Abu Dhabi. According to him, in recent months, nearly 20 Brazilian companies have registered in the industrial zone. “We have great offers for the Brazilian market, and there are many excellent business opportunities for Brazilian companies here,” said Al Marzooqi.
Abu Dhabi Ports has several port terminals, industrial zones, marinas, logistics, and digital services. “We are considered one of the largest industrial zones in the world, with 555 square kilometers of free zones and local zones,” said the director. Abu Dhabi Ports’ differential, according to him, is the infrastructure. “We are connected to the water, power, and gas systems, and companies can start their operations here quickly,” he said.
Al Marzooqi also stated Kizad is one of the largest industrial zones in the world, home to businesses from all major sectors of the economy, such as metals, automotive, polymers and chemicals, food and beverage, building materials, logistics, healthcare, technology, and oil and gas.
In addition to offering competitive prices, Kizad offers immediate access to pre-built warehouses, ranging from 200 to 50,000 square meters, according to the needs of each company. “We have several types of sheds, from highly industrial, to standard, showroom, and others,” he said.
Al Marzooqi said Brazilian companies like the option of the Kizad free zone, where it is possible to get the license immediately and visas and permits more quickly. “We want to make it easier for international companies to come and get to know our market,” he declared.
BRF at Kizad
Giovanni Pelliza, general manager of the BRF factory at Kizad, in Abu Dhabi, told about all the support BRF received for constructing its factory in the emirate. BRF is a major Brazilian animal protein company.
All imports are duty-free, and a complete and connected transport network accommodates the needs of the United Arab Emirates and other countries. BRF’s investment in the Abu Dhabi plant was USD 160 million, including all construction and machinery. The company has a center for innovation and local flavors, and the factory is strict about halal procedures, suitable for Muslim consumption.
BRF’s factory in Abu Dhabi produces a diverse portfolio of processed poultry and beef, including breaded, nuggets, sausages, hamburgers, chicken breast marinades, and assorted cuts. “There is a great market for this type of product here,” he said. The products are from the Sadia brand, already known in the region. They are sold in the UAE, Gulf countries, and North Africa.
Pelliza stated the procedures for setting up the factory were very agile. Permission to build and start construction was given in July 2013. In September 2014, the work was about to finish, and in October of the same year, the factory was already operating.
Access to markets
Ambassador Osmar Chohfi, president of the ABCC, opened the webinar. He said Kizad is considered one of the most advanced port zones globally, with accessible infrastructure for implementing different business configurations. “The advantages of setting up at Kizad go beyond the geographic and infrastructure facilities; Kizad is a tax-free environment, with competitive operating costs, such as low water and power prices, factors that positively affect the final value of the products,” said Chohfi. For the ambassador, all these benefits can be considered opportunities for Brazilian companies to expand their business and access new markets.
The head of Abu Dhabi Ports Industrial Cities and Free Zone Cluster, Abdullah Al Hameli, also participated in the event. According to him, over 10,000 Brazilians live and work in the UAE, and thousands of Emiratis visit Brazil every year. “I am sure we can increase business between our countries,” he said.
Opportunities in Abu Dhabi
The Investor Care Director of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), Souad Mohamed Al Hosani, also spoke at the event. She presented the emirate’s opportunities in the fields of health, technology, fintech, agriculture, and tourism, with different types of financing, public-private partnerships in infrastructure projects, among other possibilities. ADIO is a government hub supporting private sector investments in the emirate, which helps ensure long-term partnerships and sustainability in the region.
The New Business director of the ABCC, Daniella Leite, gave an overview of Brazil’s relationship with the Arab countries in general and specifically with the UAE. She informed the organization helps companies to connect with Kizad and the entire Arab world. “We intend to facilitate this path for companies to internationalize and discover this new market,” she concluded.
Watch the full webinar below:
Translated by Elúsio Brasileiro
