Over the past two years, plant-based food consumption has grown by 49% across the EU, reaching a total sales volume of €3.6 billion.
Jebel Ali Free Zone will become a trade bridge between China and the Middle East
2025-05-15
A Chinese delegation including many high-ranking Chinese officials visited the Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation and trade.
The delegation, led by Wang Heshan, Vice Governor of China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, also discussed the possibility of building a trade bridge between the Jebel Ali Free Zone and the Yinchuan Free Trade Zone, with the two zones acting as a hub for developing bilateral trade between northwest China and the Middle East.
He Salma Ali Saif Bin Hareb, CEO of Jebel Ali Free Zone (EZW), received the visitors at the free zone and stressed the desire of Jebel Ali Free Zone to strengthen bilateral trade relations, which remains a largely untapped market for imports and exports.
She said: “China is one of our most important trading partners. We are pleased to see the strong interest of the Ningxia Autonomous Region in developing closer business relations with Jafza, which is a logistics hub for businesses throughout the Middle East, West Asia, the CIS and Africa.”
"Jebel Ali Free Zone can be a springboard for Northwest China to make a mark in the world. We are very happy to serve as a trade bridge between Northwest China and the Middle East."
China's Northwest region includes the Ningxia Autonomous Region, Xinjiang, Shaanxi, Gansu, and Qinghai. Ningxia is among China's most resource-rich provinces, with vast fertile land reserves.
Ningxia Autonomous Region aims to develop into a leading halal food manufacturer, textile region, and e-commerce hub in northwest China. The delegation sought to explore comprehensive cooperation to establish a seamless supply chain and facilitate free trade flows between the two regions through the Jebel Ali Free Trade Zone.