Jafza Webinar Highlights the Way Forward to Empower SME Businesses

The region’s most experienced and successful free zone operator, Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), has that said it has ramped up efforts to support the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) sector affected by COVID-19.

The Free Zone hosted a webinar titled “Empowering Growth During Business Uncertainty” that attracted top industry experts and Jafza associates.

Abdullah Alajaji, Founder, Driven Properties, Paul Bryson, Director of Domestic Structuring, Virtuzone and Mohammed AlDahbashi, Co-Managing Partner, Al Dahbashi Gray participated in the webinar.

SMEs account for 94% of all companies operating in the UAE and generate more than 86% of the private sector’s jobs. The “Jafza Customer Support Initiative” launched earlier this year, offered a 50-70% reduction of registration, licensing and related administration functions fees in Jafza as well as for new investors.

The initiative included the waiver of the application and attestation fees for all new incoming business. The key objectives of the exercise were to ease cost burdens for customers, increase Jafza market share, and maximise asset base.

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Ahmad Al Haddad, Chief Operating Officer, Parks and Zones – DP World, UAE Region, said: “Cost of doing business is, and has always been, a crucial element of our support strategy for existing and potential customers.

"The reductions in registration, licensing and other administrative fees were carefully planned and implemented across our vast customer base of over 8,000 so every company benefitted from them.

“At Jafza, we’ve worked diligently towards ensuring our customers are fully satisfied with the support we give them and our service excellence. The initiatives are also designed to further incentivise customers to continue to operate from Jafza, especially in the prevailing market uncertainties."

Abdullah Alajaji, Founder, Driven Properties, said: “In turbulent times, it is of paramount importance to embrace change. With the landscape of doing business evolving via technology and talent, it is those businesses with the right discipline and growth mindset that will thrive and capture a larger market share in their respective sector.“

Among Jafza's frontline offerings are the Business Incubators that provide startups with 360-degree administrative and advisory support services. The aim is to help and guide new companies along a sustainable roadmap that would give them financial viability and organic growth.

Located at the flagship business centre, Jafza One, the incubators offer bespoke, region-specific solutions to suit the needs of the small and medium partners.

Jafza’s one-stop, plug-and-play ecosystem for Trade & Industry, complemented by DP World’s global network of ports and logistics capabilities, remains an opportunity for all, no matter where they’re located.

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