Abu Dhabi hosted a May 3 meeting between representatives of the Almaty socio-entrepreneurial corporation (SEC) and the management of the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) Khalifa Industrial Zone (KIZAD).
Almaty SEC chairman Kairat Kulbayev arrived in KIZAD to study the area and learn about positive experiences gained by the UAE. The Almaty industrial zone is due to be completed soon, he said, and 34 resident companies have already been selected. Their initial investment in its production is about 300 billion tenge (US$1.6 billion).
The Almaty Industrial Zone measures 490 hectares divided into seven sectors: chemical, construction, furniture industry, engineering, food industry, light industry and pharmaceutical. These sections correlate with the industries currently in the city.
“We plan to start using the industrial zone by the end of the year, as related construction work is already underway. The purpose of our meeting in Abu Dhabi is to learn the experience of our Emirate colleagues, to present investment opportunities in our project and possibly to agree on the development of bilateral cooperation,” said Kulbayev.
During the meeting with the Kazakh delegation, the KIZAD management spoke about the history of the industrial zone’s formation, its present operation and future development plans. Comprising 417 square kilometers, KIZAD is located in the area between the Arabian Desert and the Persian Gulf. Its numerous enterprises are located near Tauila, 60 km from the UAE capital city of Abu Dhabi and 45 km from the city of Dubai.
Products manufactured at KIZAD enterprises quickly reach world markets due to major transportation nodes surrounding the industrial area, with Abu Dhabi’s industrial zone linking the railway and highway. KIZAD is also connected through the Khalifa port and the four airports of Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Quick access to transportation hubs is necessary, considering that 60-80 percent of the products produced in the industrial zone are meant for export.
After thoroughly demonstrating KIZAD, UAE representatives noted that they would take part in a similar project in Kazakhstan.
In addition, the counselor of the Kazakh Embassy in the UAE Magyar Menilbekov offered an invitation to the vice president of KIZAD Mana Mohammed Saeed Al Mulla to participate in the upcoming Astana Economic Forum
