AD Ports Group has signed two agreements with the Government of Kyrgyzstan to promote trade and strengthen economic ties with the Central Asian nation.
Under the first agreement, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce has entered negotiations with AD Ports to secure more than 300,000 square metres of land within the Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi (KEZAD) to develop and operate a logistics hub and customs area.
The project aims to facilitate the import and export of cargo to and from the Kyrgyz Republic.
“Our preliminary agreement with the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of Kyrgyzstan will be the beginning of a new chapter in UAE-Kyrgyzstan relations, with the plan for a logistics hub and customs area providing a focal point for economic development and trade between our nations,” said Abdullah Al Hameli, CEO of Economic Cities & Free Zones, AD Ports.
“Companies will benefit from enhanced customs processes and accelerated access to market through the new trade hub, which will be supported by KEZAD’s strategic location and superlative range of specialised services.”
READ: AD Ports breaks ground on UAE’s largest commerce fulfilment centre
Under the second agreement, Maqta Gateway – AD Ports’ digital arm – will initiate a strategy for the Ministry of Finance for developing a customs and border management solution, infrastructure, and national single window, among other digital services, for deployment in Kyrgyzstan.
Maqta Gateway has previously developed and operated the Advanced Trade Platform (ATLP), a single-window solution designed to unify trade and logistics services across Abu Dhabi – including sea, land, air, industrial and free zones.
READ: Maqta Gateway signs MoU to transform truck logistics
Both agreements build upon the group’s strategy to expand its presence in Central Asia.
“These dual preliminary agreements – which highlight AD Ports Group’s leadership in free zones and digital services – are an opportunity to advance relations between our two nations,” said Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO, AD Ports.
“Under the guidance of our wise leadership, the group continues to expand its presence around the world, and we see Central Asia as a vital market for growth and development.”
The President of UAE recently inaugurated AD Ports’ Khalifa Port expansion, a major development project with a total investment of AED4 billion ($1 billion).
The expansion programme is in line with the company’s vision to increase handling capacity at Khalifa Port by 2030 to 15 million TEU per year, and general cargo handling capacity to 25 million tonnes.
