The Hamriyah Free Zone Authority (HFZA) has received a high-level delegation from Turkey, comprising of 143 VIPs, officials, and directors of the most prominent companies in the food and beverage sector.

The delegation’s visit aimed to explore new investment opportunities and experience the quality services provided to investors in this vital sector. HE Saud Salim Al Mazrouei, Director of the Hamriyah Free Zone Authority, along with a number of HFZA officials and directors of departments, received the delegation.

During the visit, the Turkish delegation was briefed on the investment incentives and advantages offered by the free zone’s “Food Park”, the first and largest integrated city for food and commercial industries in the UAE and the region. They were introduced to the exclusive services provided by the complex, specially designed for investors in the food industry sector.

The guests were also apprised of the integrated business environment for local, regional, and international food companies, which includes facilitating import and export operations, storage, processing, and packaging of foodstuffs, as well as warehouses and world-class logistics services.

Promoting investment cooperation

Welcoming the Turkish delegation, HE Saud Salim Al Mazrouei emphasized HFZA’s keenness to attract Turkish investments and promote stronger investment and trade ties between the UAE and Turkey, especially as the UAE is Turkey’s first trading partner in the Arab region, with non-oil foreign trade valued at about AED 50.368 billion in 2021. He noted that the bilateral and economic relations between the two countries have recently achieved qualitative leaps.

Al Mazrouei went on to say that the “Food Park” within HFZA plays a crucial role in supporting the business sector not only in Sharjah but also in the UAE. Serving as a central hub for the food industry, the complex offers a range of incentives through various commercial licenses, including processing, assembly, packaging, and manufacturing.

He added that investors can benefit from exemptions on import and export taxes, as well as access to industry experts and regulatory bodies to stay up to date with the latest best practices. The complex also provides a seamless platform for direct communication with food industry investors, facilitating uninterrupted business operations.

Tapping into new markets

The Turkish delegation was provided with an extensive presentation on the Hamriyah Free Zone, which houses over 6,500 investors from 163 countries worldwide. The presentation highlighted the free zone’s outstanding efforts made to attract and increase foreign direct investment flows, thus bolstering Sharjah’s economy across several significant sectors, such as food, logistics, heavy industries, minerals, the maritime sector, oil and gas, and entrepreneurship.

The Hamriyah Free Zone stands as one of the most prominent and successful free zones in the region, offering a crucial platform for companies that seek to tap into new markets and expand their growth from the free zone. Its strategic location at the center of global trade in Sharjah and its proximity to various major regions in the UAE, the region, and beyond make it an ideal destination for investors.

The delegation toured several factories in the free zone and food park, inspecting the infrastructure and logistical services provided. They were impressed by the competitive advantages and facilities available, and noted the convenience of obtaining various licenses within an hour.

The guests also appreciated the administrative, technical, and logistical services that made doing business easy. They were particularly impressed with the smart platforms and digital services offered by Hamriyah Free Zone, which make it one of the most flexible free zones in the world.