Fujairah, incorporated with Advanced Trade and Logistics Platform, was officially announced by Maqta Gateway, The digital branch of Abu Dhabi Ports.
The announcement comes after the recent completion of the Fujairah Terminals expansion initiative, which included the installation of many infrastructural and service advancements and was officially launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah. The expansion works, which are part of a long-term AED 1 billion investment programme, have greatly improved the facility’s capacity and capabilities in handling various types of cargo and larger vessels, as well as bolstering its role as a major trade hub connecting GCC countries, India, the Red Sea, and East Africa.
His Highness Sheikh Eng. Mohammed bin Hamad bin Saif Al Sharqi, Director of Fujairah’s eGovernment Department, said: “Since the founding of Fujairah’s E-Government Department in 2003, the organisation has achieved great strides with its charge to advance the digital transformation of the emirate’s government services. Our new link with the Advanced Trade and Logistics Platform, which aims to interconnect all trade and logistics across the country’s air, land, sea, industrial and free zones, is the latest step in our continued journey to realise our strategic goals toward digital transformation.
“By synchronising our infrastructure with the latest innovations and integrated solutions offered by ATLP, we not only offer stakeholders and commercial businesses an enhanced experience when interacting with our platforms, but we have also greatly improved how business is facilitated across Fujairah’s trade ecosystem and introduced new opportunities for all involved across the entire value chain.”
ATLP’s phased adoption over key milestones is expected to accelerate the development of trade in the emirate, standardise information exchange and messaging, increase security, and predictability through increased transparency. It was developed and operated by Maqta Gateway under the supervision of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED).
The current negotiations will focus on producing a high-level assessment of ATLP’s full potential in terms of being part of a fully integrated national single window, which will include shipping firms, logistics businesses, freight forwarders, port authorities, customs, and economic zones for trade within the UAE.
Fujairah’s implementation of a single point of entry for its commercial stakeholders involved in trade and logistics will deliver real-time information at any time of day, in addition to lowering paperwork, administrative, and processing times.
ATLP is Abu Dhabi’s single window for service requisition and fulfillment to all economic operators and government agencies via sea, air, land, industrial, and free zones. It was envisioned as a platform for improving customer and stakeholder experience by streamlining journeys, systems, processes, procedures, and resources.
H.E. Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa Al Hammadi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), said: “We are pleased to welcome Fujairah’s trade ecosystem under the umbrella of the Advanced Trade and Logistics Platform, a move that not only marks a critical step in realising integrated trade and logistics across the Middle East but one that also spotlights the beneficial impact that digitalisation will have on future industry and commerce.
“Since the founding of our organisation, ADDED has been at the forefront of several economic initiatives fostering the realisation of a sustainable, diversified economy powered by knowledge and innovation. The formulation of ATLP is the culmination of those continued efforts and is not only raising the region’s trade ecosystem to new heights but is also elevating the UAE’scompetitive investment climate and its reputation as a global hub for industry.”
Dr. Noura Al Dhaheri, Head of Digital Cluster, Abu Dhabi Ports, and CEO of Maqta Gateway, said: “The inclusion of Fujairah’strade and logistics operators and stakeholders under ATLP represents an exciting new phase inMaqta Gateway’sjourney to digitally transform regional trade.
“Our nation’s leaders have set a bold vision to digitalise trade and utilise the most advanced technologies to best meet the challenges of tomorrow. ATLP’s holistic approach incorporates all stakeholders and ensures they act as one, providing fully digitalised check and procedures, and achieving safe and smooth passage for all trade.
“The inclusion of Fujairah’s trade ecosystem into ATLP is the realisation of Abu Dhabi Ports’ long-standing vision of introducing the most advanced, transparent and streamlined single point of entry for national and regional trade.”
Abdul Aziz Al Balooshi, CEO of Fujairah Terminals, said: “The integration of Fujairah’s trade and logistics ecosystem into ATLP is a key step in the emirate’s economic development. Aligned with the benefits of the recent completion of Fujairah Terminals’ AED 1 billion expansion project, it exemplifies our continued commitment to position Fujairah as a leading hub for all cargo on the UAE’s East Coast, and will advance the emirate’s trade by combining ultra-modern infrastructure with the terminal’s strategic location that links to the rest of the GCC, the Indian subcontinent, the Red Sea, and East Africa.”
ATLP is being built under the direction of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development and will be launched in May 2020.
