Jebel Ali free zone (Jafza) said it won the 'Best International Logistics Project' award at the 7th Logistics Awards held recently in Spain as part of the International Logistics and Material Handling Exhibition (SIL) 2011.

The award reflects Jafza’s huge impact in global logistics industry in general and in Europe in particular and also reaffirms its all-round operational excellence, the Dubai-based company said in a statement.

The high-profile event dedicated to Europe’s logistics industry and held for the 13th consecutive year at Barcelona’s Gran Via de Fira, saw thousands of the region’s leading industry professionals gathered for the Exhibition.

Mansoor Al Bastaki, regional manager – Europe at Economic Zones World, who accepted the award on behalf of Jafza said: "Winning this award reconfirms the leading position Jafza has achieved in the global logistics industry."

"We have consistently demonstrated our role as a vital commercial and business hub in the Middle East providing an excellent environment with best-in-class suite of offerings."

"Over the past 26 years, Jafza has continually expanded its world-class infrastructure, value-added services and incentives to support the growth of global companies," he added.

A large number of international companies visited the Jafza stand at the event showing their keen interest to set-up their regional hub at the free zone.

Spanish Minister of Development José Blanco, also attended the exhibition and visited the Jafza stand. He was briefed on the facilities and infrastructure developments at Jafza, the Dubai Logistics Corridor and the benefits of integrated operations and how well Dubai’s free trade business model has supported sustainable development.

Today, Jafza is home to numerous well-known global companies. 1500 European companies have based their operations in Jafza including 16 Spanish companies.

Jafza considers Spain a promising trade partner, and the overall trade between Jafza and Spain in 2010 was valued at $241 million, according to the Dubai World’s Statistics Department,

The SIL 2011 Exhibition which showcases new products and services for logistics companies, has areas dedicated to new technologies and logistical transport centres.

This year saw 50,000 visitors and various sectors related to logistics management represented at the event, including transport and logistics systems, infrastructures and real estate, storage, equipment and materials handling and e-Business, telecommunications, IT solutions.-TradeArabia News Service