31/03/2016 07:11 AST
Abu Dhabi Ports would continue to grow this year, despite volatile markets. "Our double-digit growth in recent years, despite many challenges in the maritime industry, gives us the confidence to look forward to continued growth this year as well," says Capt Mohammed Juma Al Shamisi chief executive officer of Abu Dhabi Ports Company.
Speaking on the occasion of Abu Dhabi Ports' tenth anniversary, he said this milestone moment is an opportunity to define its decade-long achievements and build the stepping stones for the future.
"We have a strong conviction that our celebration should be beyond marking the number of years. As we happily look at our long list of achievements, we celebrate those that substantially contributed to the development of this great nation, and to the emirate of Abu Dhabi in particular," said Captain Al Shamisi.
A study commissioned by Abu Dhabi Ports and verified by Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi explains that the company contributed more than Dh14 billion to Abu Dhabi's GDP and generated over 39,500 new direct and indirect job opportunities in 2014.
The activities of Abu Dhabi Ports in its entirety accounted for 2.9 per cent of theemirate's non-oil GDP, which resulted in rise to nearly two per cent of overall employment in Abu Dhabi's non-oil economy.
This had a greater impact on the national GDP which witnessed a value added impact of Dh18.1 billion and nearly 64,000 jobs were supported. Abu Dhabi Ports' contribution is expected to increase further with the increasing capacity of the company's ports and operations based in Khalifa Industrial Zone.
Abu Dhabi Ports' flagship Khalifa Port, the first semi-automated container port in the region, grabbed global attention when the port was ranked third in the world and the first in the region in September 2015 for the highest growth rate.
Khalifa Port's adjacent Khalifa Industrial Zone (Kizad) also immensely contributes to the port's success story.
Zayed Port caught the attention of global tourism sector for two remarkable feats - opening of the permanent cruise terminal and unprecedented increase in cruise tourist arrivals.
The number of cruise tourists rose five-fold year-on-year to 205,000 visiting Abu Dhabi during this season 2015-2016.
Khalifa Industrial Zone or Kizad has currently attracted around 90 national and international investors, and a total of 13 million square metres of land leased that represent a total investment of more than Dh55 billion. Zayed Port and Musaffah Port also bolster the trade and logistic sectors. A young company achieving stable growth throughout ten years in all major business sectors is an extraordinary feat. The fact that three major sectors, namely container cargo, general and bulk cargo, and cruise sector, attained double-digit Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) makes it more significant. Abu Dhabi Ports announced its new annual cargo-volume record in 2015 on the backdrop of a slowdown in the global maritime industry. Thirty two per cent increase in container cargo volumes, 27 per cent in Roll-on-roll-off (RORO) traffic, 20 per cent in general and bulk cargo, and 16 per cent growth in cruise industry attracted the attention of global industry.
A new dynamism witnessed in the port community in the Western Region of Since the inauguration of Al Mirfa Port in December 2015, Abu Dhabi's remaining ports Mugharraq Port, Sila Port and Delma Port will be upgraded to better serve the local community. Sir Bani Yas Island's beachfront will be developed as the Arabian Gulf's first cruise beach stopover by third quarter of this year.
Khaleej Times
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