'Zadi' platform keeps Dubai's food trade flowing

'Zadi' platform was able to withstand all of the disruptions and challenges posed by the COVID-19 outbreak, according to the free zone.

A joint initiative with Dubai Customs and Dubai Municipality, Zadi supports more than 18,000 companies engage in 360,000 transactions annually via the platform. It allows for food and customs inspection and reduces operational costs and time for the importers.

Zadi helps with the import and re-export of food shipments through Dubai ports. Dubai’s external food trade reached nine million tonnes in the first six months of 2020, representing Dh32 billion in total, whereas food imports were Dh22 billion.

Mohammed Al Muallem, CEO and Managing Director of DP World – UAE Region said, “We did not anticipate COVID-19 - but we were prepared to deal with the disruption it caused.”

“Jafza plays a central role in supporting the National Food Security Strategy’s primary goal of facilitating global food trade and diversifying import sources,” the official added. “To ensure trade flow amid a deteriorating market, we work closely with the Dubai Food Security Committee, and introduced a key digital initiative with a focus on prudent cost management, better productivity, asset utilisation and automation processes.”