Jebel Ali lines up 4 logistics zones

Dubai-based Jebel Ali Free Trade Zone Authority is proposing to set up four logistics free trade warehousing zones in the country.

The zones will have to be a minimum of 40 hectares and 100,000 square metres of built-up area each and will probably be located near the country's major ports.

The 1,000-hectare Jebel Ali Free Trade Zone is among the largest such facility in the region and hosts over 1,125 companies from 72 countries.

A team of Jebel Ali executives visited India recently and made a presentation to the commerce ministry, indicating its interest in setting up the zones.

Another team of executives will visit the country to scout for locations and complete its internal assessment before making a formal proposal to the Board of Approvals for special economic zones.

Although the investment details are not known yet, given current land prices, (the rules require such a zone to be at least 40 hectares in size) the investment could well run into hundreds of crores, if infrastructure development costs are also taken into account.

A senior government official said: "Jebel Ali Free Trade Zone Authority officials visited us recently. They have sought details of the Special Economic Zone Act and the rules. They are keen to set up four logistics zones, which will provide all kinds of inputs required by manufacturing units in India."

The country's first Free Trade Warehousing Zone at Haldia in West Bengal has already received clearance in principle from the Centre, as a joint venture between IL&FS and MMTC.