Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), the flagship free zone entity of Dubai, has registered an additional 60 Indian companies in 2015 from key sectors, including electronics, steel, construction and building materials, chemicals and petroleum products and FMCG, a report said.

With over 800 Indian companies from various sectors based in Jafza, the free zone recorded a growth of 10 per cent last year in the number of companies registered. This is due to the strong bilateral ties between India and the UAE and the reputation that Jafza has built among India’s business community, added the WAM report.

Jafza has been organising regular roadshows in India and the latest in the series was a three-city tour held recently in major Indian business centres Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and New Delhi. Over 300 senior investors and Indian businessmen from various sectors attended business seminars to learn about the attractive investment environment in Dubai and Jafza, it said.

The business seminar in New Delhi was attended by Ahmad bin Harib Al Falahi, UAE commercial and trade attache to India, at the UAE Embassy in India.

Opportunities for healthcare companies was Jafza’s focus in Hyderabad, one of the leading destinations for medical tourism in India. Adil Al Zarooni, senior vice president-sales, presented an outline of the pharmaceutical industry in Jafza and highlighted efforts by the government to promote Dubai as a regional destination for medical tourism.

He introduced the attendees to Dubai’s emerging health sector and the state-of-the-art hospitals and medical centres in the emirate that would require equipment and services, presenting broad prospects for Indian companies experienced in the field.

Ibrahim Mohamed Aljanahi, deputy CEO and chief commercial officer, said: “Historically, India has been a strategic partner of the UAE and Dubai. Jafza began operations 31 years ago and since then, Indian investors have trusted us and have played a key role in the growth of Jafza by establishing their businesses and production lines here.”

“Over the years, we have continued to build a stronger business relationship with India through mutual annual visits. The exchange of trade between the two sides has grown continuously, with new companies registering here every year. Through Jafza, they too have expanded their businesses and reached out to newer markets in the region,” he said.

Aljanahi added that Jafza aimed to build long-term economic partnerships with the Indian business community by providing the appropriate trade environment and by attracting investments to the country, in line with the goal of the UAE and Dubai to diversify sources of income and to prepare for the post-oil era.

He also pointed out the significance of the visit of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to India in February that has further strengthened business relations with India, and raised the level of cooperation between the two friendly nations, added the report.