Sumitomo Rubber opens office in Dubai Airport Free Zone

"Unlike Western and some Asian economies suffering from a general economic downturn the UAE and the Gulf economies are solid on the feet benefiting from the soaring high oil prices," said Mohammed Ali bin Suwailem, Sales Director, Dubai Airport Free Zone. "The choice of Dubai Airport Free Zone as the regional office of so many multinational industrial companies from all over the world validates the excellent services and infrastructure that the Free Zone offers."

Mr. Masaru Tabata, a representative of Sumitomo Rubber Middle East FZE, said:

"among the benefits of having an office at the Dubai Airport Free Zone is that it is possible to establish a company based on 100% share of foreign (Japanese) company, and also its location is quite convenient for us, very close to our customers' office and very convenient for us to drive our customers and colleagues to and from the airport."

He said Dubai and the GCC are "important markets for us now, in terms of current sales turnover and future strategy also, and that applies to all other industries as well as our company and we are highly satisfied with their services and facilities.

On his company's future plans in the Gulf and the wider Middle East region Mr. Masaru explained: "Since Japanese domestic and US/European markets have reached the ceiling recently, we have to target the emerging countries such as the BRIC countries and GCC/Middle East countries. In the past several years, we have invested much and expanded our operation in those regions actually, and we plan to continue to do the same in the future also."

He added that Sumitomo Rubber expects a high degree of and stable increase of business opportunities and sales and profit figures due to booming economy in this region in future.

In the tire business, Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. manufactures and markets tires under the Dunlop, Falken, Goodyear, Sumitomo and Ohtsu brands. In addition to overseas subsidiaries in China and Indonesia, the Group carries out tire production and sales in Europe and North America in joint ventures with The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.

"Time is money and the savings in time and state of the art facilities and services that we offer are a boon to companies located at the Dubai Airport Free Zone,"

said bin Suwailem.

Established in 1996, the Dubai Airport Free Zone is home to 1,425 multinational companies from various sectors. With flexible operations processes that meet client demands.

The Free Zone makes up a vibrant community of some of the biggest international companies. Companies at the Free Zone enjoy 100% tax exemption, 100% ownership rights, and easy access to airport facilities, rapid cargo clearance and availability of competitively priced multinational talent in a cosmopolitan city. Leading companies located at the zone include Ferrari, Rolls Royce, Airbus, Isuzu, HTC, Benq, Victoria's Secret, and Boeing.