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DUBAI — The Dubai Flower Centre(DFC) aims to boost the growth in the regional cargo sector as it is strategically located and offers excellent transhipment facility for perishable goods in the region. Moreover, DFC's computerised tracking system helps exporters and importers easily track the flight status, shipment loading and the temperature of their products throughout the supply chain.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), global air cargo traffic grew 5.7per cent in the first four months of 2006, with Middle East traffic leading in accelerating air freight growth. Freight traffic out of the Middle East surged 17.9 per cent compared to the first four months of last year.
Leading this momentum is the Dubai International Airport which has witnessed a consistent 20 per cent growth in cargo traffic and the DFC, located adjacent to the airport, could not have been better placed to serve the perishables cargo sector. Ibrahim Ahli, marketing director at the Dubai Flower Centre, said, "With the latest facilities and equipment DFC will give a boost to the cargo sector in the region, especially for transhipment of perishable goods, from the Middle East, Asia and African regions."
He further added, "We have already received very positive responses from East African flower growers and exporters including Kenya and Ethiopia as well as from consuming countries like Russia and Japan."
Moreover, DFC is operating as a free zone offering various requirements of the cargo sector which include on-site logistics service providers, quality control facilities and customs inspection. Along with immediate connections to local markets in the AGCC region, excellent international connections through air, land and sea, and direct access to international traders and customers.
According to Michael Mueller, managing director of Planetfair Dubai LLC, "By routing perishable goods through tax-free Dubai, shippers can save time and money in the delivery chain connecting to more than 15 producing countries with Asian, African and Middle Eastern markets."
The arrival of the product and onward shipment within AGCC countries are virtually instantaneous as immediately after payment of the standard 5 per cent duty and customs clearance, products are shipped directly to any AGCC country without additional custom duty or taxes.
"In fact, operating in a free zone, the DFC offers incomparable advantages to international operators. All these will result in DFC significantly contributing to the growth of cargo sector in the region," explained Ahli.
The recently commissioned DFC also offers the cool chain process for perishable items from the aircraft arrival until pick-up by the consignee. The centre has the capacity to handle 180,000 tonnes annually and has already handled more than 5,000 tonnes of perishables — flowers, fruit and vegetables — in the first month of operations.
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