Sharjah’s Hamriyah Free Zone Authority (HFZA) has announced that Arab & India Spices, a global leader in the pulses and spice industry, will build 12 silos worth $40.8m (AED150m) at the Sharjah Food Park with a total operating capacity of 52,000 metric tons of pulses at a time.
The 12 grain storage warehouses will be constructed over an area spanning 27,871m2 in the food park, which is a regional hub for the Middle East and North Africa’s (MENA) multi-billion dollar food industry, dedicated to food import, export, storage, manufacture, and packaging.
This first-of-its-kind facility in the MENA region in terms of organised storage capacity will cover the UAE’s consumption needs of beans and lentils for a period of six months.
The project was announced during a ceremony held at HFZA’s premises in the presence of the chairman of HFZA, HE Sheikh Khaled Bin Abdullah Bin Sultan Al Qasimi; the director of HFZA, HE Saud Salim Al Mazrouei; and the owner of Arab & India Spices, Harish Kumarlal Tahiliani.
Commenting on the project, Tahiliani said: “The competitive services offered by Hamriyah Free Zone perfectly meet our expansion requirements, especially its shipping and logistical facilities, which match the highest international standards, and facilitate and accelerate the ease of doing business.”
Tahiliani added: “The project’s launch is promising. Once inaugurated, it will shoot up our investments in the UAE from $95.3m (AED350m) to $136.1m (AED500m), a growth of 43%.”
The project is in line with Sharjah’s aim to become a global destination for businesses and foreign direct investment across various economic sectors, as part of the directives of the Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, HH Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi.
Al Mazrouei said: “The Emirate of Sharjah has taken many major steps to support its diversification strategy. These include strategic location, sophisticated infrastructure, advanced logistical facilities, and business-motivating legislations.”
