RAKEZ bridging Chinese investment in the Middle East sustainably

As the Belt and Road Initiative enters a new era of high-quality development, Chinese enterprises' expansion into the Middle East is currently experiencing a crucial window for transitioning from "commodity trade" to "capacity cooperation".

The Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone in the United Arab Emirates held a special business opportunity exchange briefing session in Beijing, on Tuesday.

The roadshow aims to facilitate the precise matching of China's advantageous production capacity with the market demands of the Middle East through the establishment of an industrial connection platform.

A variety of enterprises — in fields such as building materials, auto parts, logistics, and foreign trade — jointly discussed how to leverage the advantages of the UAE to reach the vast market covering 3.5 billion people in the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia.

As China's largest trading partner in the Arab world, the UAE is increasingly demonstrating its unique geographical advantages. Around 60 percent of China's trade with the Middle East and North Africa is transshipped through the UAE, data shows.

"The relationship between the UAE and China has been built over more than four decades, and the Belt and Road Initiative has created another important platform through which that relationship can deepen," Ramy Jallad, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah, said in an exclusive interview with China Daily Website.

"At RAKEZ, our role is to translate that broader relationship into practical business opportunities," he added. "We support more than 400 Chinese companies operating across areas including high tech, medical equipment, LED lighting, construction, and food manufacturers."

Through partnerships with free trade zones and Chinese local government departments in Tianjin, Liaocheng, and Foshan, RAKEZ is able to provide support covering business set-up and licensing, visa services for investors and employees, logistics support, as well as access to industrial land, warehouses, and offices.

Jallad pointed out that Chinese enterprises in the park no longer merely focus on the initial setup costs, but also pay more attention to whether the investment destination can support the entire life cycle development of the enterprises. The "Tech Flex" technology community being developed by RAKEZ is precisely designed to accommodate China's strengths in areas such as high-end equipment and intelligent manufacturing research and development.