Bosch Mideast plans expansion in Dubai

DUBAI — Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Emirates Group, received a senior board member from the German company Robert Bosch.

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Published: Mon 15 Nov 2010, 11:08 PM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 11:26 AM

Dr Rudolf Colm, a senior Board Member, Bosch Group told Shaikh Ahmed of his company’s plans to expand its operations at the Dubai Airport Freezone to cope with demand from its customers in the Gulf, the Middle East and Africa.

The German multinational company operating in Dubai Airport Freezone, registered a turnover of Dh200 billion last year. Dr Colm was accompanied during his visit by Dr Mohammed Al Zarooni, Director General of Dubai Airport Freezone and Mr Volker Bischoff, General Manager of Robert Bosch ME- FZE, the Middle East subsidiary of Bosch Group. “The history of partnership with German companies goes back to 1960s with large trade volumes between the two countries in all trade, services and industrial sectors. Bosch has always been a strategic partner with a major contribution to the local economy in the Gulf and entire Middle East region,” said Shaikh Ahmed, who is also Chairman of the Dubai Airport Freezone.

“We shall spare no effort to maintain the distinguished trade relationship with Bosch and shall make sure that we facilitate their operation in Dubai Airport Freezone,” added Shaikh Ahmed.

“We have clearly instructed the foreign investments incubation entities such as Dubai Airport Freezone in Dubai to avail every possible resources that enable the multinational firms to perform their commercial activities smoothly.

Dr. Colm, said, “During the last nine years of operation in Dubai Airport Freezone, we found that the Freezone has been a true partner who worked hand in hand with us to achieve our business objectives.”

“The Freezone management is very supportive and with a very sophisticated infrastructure and unmatched services, and did indeed help our business to grow over the years. Due to this, we decided to expand and boost the number of our staff to meet the consistent increase in demand for our services.”

He added, “Bosch has seen an immense business opportunity in the Middle East and Africa with an increasing demand for products with the latest technology including automotive aftermarket parts, power tools, security systems and photovoltaics.”

According to Dr. Colm, the Middle East and Africa regions are promising with good business potential. “The Middle East has seen over the past few years double digit growth, while countries in Africa had an average of five percent GDP increase on an annual basis.”

“In support of the UAE’s green policy we consider to add a photovoltaics Sales division to our Dubai operation. In fact photovoltaic is gaining insignificance in the whole Middle East region. By expanding our photovoltaic business in the Middle East we aim to make a considerable contribution to saving energy and Carbon footprint,” Dr Colm said.

According to Volker Bischoff, General Manager, Robert Bosch Middle East FZE, the company had grown over the years from a small office in Dubai Airport Freezone with only a couple of staff to a fully fledged subsidiary with 65 employees in 2008. Robert Bosch Middle East is responsible for sales, marketing and technical support of its automotives aftermarket systems and spare parts, power tools, security system and thermo technology.”

He continued,” We are also engaged in hydraulics and pneumatic business with our Rexroth division. A major project was the construction of the ship lifting facilities in Dubai Drydocks few years ago.”

Robert Bosch Group, the biggest technology leader in the world, has bounced back from the deep worldwide recession and posted a 28 per cent increase in revenue as of July, 2010 compared to a year ago.

business@khaleejtimes.com


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