Dubai Trade steps up customer outreach initiative

Mahmood Al Bastaki, Director of Dubai Trade, along with senior officials from Jafza, DP World and Dubai Customs, met senior Landmark officials, including Micky Jagtiani, Chairman, Vipen Sethi, Chief Executive Officer, and V.S. Santosh Kumar, Chief Financial Officer, at the group's headquarters in Jebel Ali.

The meeting discussed the services provided by Dubai Trade that facilitate direct online transactions between the Dubai World flagship companies and Landmark, owner of well-known brands such as Home Centre, Babyshop, Shoe Mart, Lifestyle, Max, EMax and Splash.

Both sides also discussed possibilities of upgrades to meet Landmark's specific needs and ways to maximise portal services in order to help better trade flow.

The meeting came as part of Dubai Trade's periodical customer outreach programme, where the trade facilitator evaluates the level of its services, looks for areas where further fine-tuning may be needed in order to strengthen its relations with the customer and shares information on latest developments in providing online solutions.

Through such meetings Dubai Trade seeks to ensure speedy and efficient trade flow as well as client satisfaction.

"Our aim is to encourage optimum use of online services in transactions, which makes significant difference in the quality of trade flow."

Al Bastaki said.

"Landmark is a major client availing the services of Jebel Ali Port, the Free Zone and Dubai Customs. It has one of the biggest bases in the Free Zone and is one of the most frequent users of the Dubai Trade portal to deal with these companies. Our meeting with the senior management of Landmark was part of a self-assessment and also an effort to know the specific needs of the client, which changes in accordance with the evolving business environment. Dubai Trade constantly upgrades services to keep pace with these changes. The results of such discussions will positively reflect in our future operations," he noted.

Vipen Sethi, CEO of Landmark Group said the meeting was a fruitful exercise in interaction.

"Landmark, with its wide range of retail businesses, has one of the biggest central distribution system (CDC) in Jafza, which shows the quantum of business we do and the level of services we avail from the port, free zone and the customs. Dubai Trade's online services are of immense help in our dealings with these companies. It is time-saving, cost-effective and reliable. As our business grows, our needs get more complex. The meeting provided us with the opportunity to discuss all areas of services and look at possibilities for improvement."

he said.

The discussions focused on the E-services at Jafza, DP World and Dubai Customs, storage and clearance facilities at the port and free zone and issues related to the transition from Dubai Customs' innovative e-clearance platform Mirsal I to Mirsal II.

Landmark Group, winner of several major regional retailer awards, occupies 0.5 million square feet of space for their Central Distribution Centre in Jafza and is looking for expansion to over 1 million square feet.

The retailer giant has over 840 stores across 12 countries, including GCC, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, India, Pakistan and China, where it operates over 10 million square feet of retail space.

Dubai Trade has developed innovative concepts in online service to facilitate effective electronic transactions between customers and companies directly concerned with commercial activities such as DP World, Dubai Customs, Dubai Multi Commodities Centre and Economic Zones World.