The high-profile ceremony held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai was attended by H.E Jamal Majid Bin Thaniah, Chairman of Dubai Trade; H.E. Juma Mohamed Al Kait, Assistant Undersecretary – Foreign Trade Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Economy, Mr. Mohammed Al Muallem, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of DP World - UAE Region and Board Member of Dubai Trade, H.E. Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Dubai Customs Director, Mr. Ibrahim Mohamed Aljanahi, Jafza Deputy CEO and Chief Commercial Officer; Mr. Ali Ibrahim Ismail Deputy Director General of the Department of Economic Development, Government of Dubai, Eng. Mahmood Al Bastaki, CEO of Dubai Trade, DP World terminal managers from around the world, and senior representatives from government organisations, financial institutions and the media.
Al-Futtaim Logistics LLC won the Smart Services Award for M-Token Services with National Fire Fighting Manufacturing FZCO as runner-up. Agility Global Logistics FZE won the Smart Services Award for Free Zone Services with T. D. Williamson Middle East FZE runner-up. National Fire Fighting Manufacturing FZCO won the Smart Services Award for Clearance Services with Unique Sea Cargo Services (LLC) runner-up. NAFFCO Shipping & Forwarding won the Smart Services Award for Payment Services with Vibrant Freight LLC as runner-up. While Dubai Trade Innovative Award of the Year to the best innovation project in trade and logistics was presented to Al Futtaim Logistics.
Dubai Exports also partnered with Dubai Trade in recognising exporters with the New Exporter of the Year Award won by Bilal Mohd Ballout LLC (BMB) and Natural Way Sweets LLC as runner-up. The Innovative Exporter of the Year was awarded to Taghleef Industries L.L.C with NAFFCO FZCO as runner-up.
In his keynote address, Bin Thaniah urged attendees to seek opportunities and embrace change, despite the geopolitical changes in the region and the decline in global oil prices. He said: “Innovation is part of Dubai’s fabric thanks to the mandate of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, who marked 2015 as the Year of Innovation.”
Commending the winners, Bin Thaniah, said, “The winners of the awards have pioneered smart services and stimulated trade and exports in Dubai. Thanks to our visionary leadership, we are leading the world in smart services and have seamlessly integrated trade and logistics processes on customer friendly platforms using innovative technologies. Together, we are building the future to ensure Dubai’s position as one of the most efficient trade hubs in the world”
H.E. Abdullah Al Saleh, Undersecretary – Foreign Trade Sector at the UAE Ministry of Economy said the Ministry was proud to be a strategic supporter of the event. “Dubai Trade has become synonymous with innovation, leading the region in smart services, so boosting the trade and logistics sector and stimulating use of the Dubai Trade Portal to conduct business easily.”
CEO of Dubai Trade, Eng. Mahmood Al Bastaki highlighted the growth in trade in the country and the use of the Dubai Trade portal. He said: “UAE Foreign trade was AED 966 billion in the first 3 quarters of 2015 and we hope to make AED 1.3 trillion by the end of the year. Much of this trade came from some 19.5 million transactions through the Dubai Trade portal, a 6% increase, saving the trading community tremendous amounts of valuable time and money.”
He added: “We live in a rapidly changing world, with fast moving change, opportunities, discoveries and inventions. So preparation is key to sustaining our place as a trading hub and business leader. Dubai Trade will continue to cement the economic activities of the country strengthening Dubai’s position as a regional and global gateway.”
Al Bastaki thanked the sponsors who supported the award ceremony. They included Gold sponsors Al Futtaim Logistics and Technopro Middle East and Silver sponsors, Agility Logistics and Newage Software Solutions. He also underlined the valuable role of the government and private supporters, especially the UAE Ministry of Economy for being partners over the years alongside DP World; Dubai Customs; JAFZA; the International Chamber of Commerce – UAE Chapter; The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), and Dubai Media Incorporated who also supported the event.
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