1.1609694-3417275554
Sharief Habib Al Awadi speaking during a panel discussion at the Global Trade Development Week in Dubai on Wednesday. Al Awadi said next year the Fujairah Free Zone plans to grow the number of food and metals companies in the free zone. Image Credit: Virendra Saklani/Gulf News

Dubai: The value of goods coming in and out of the Fujairah Free Zone is expected to increase by 3 to 4 per cent this year, Director-General Sharief Habib Al Awadi told Gulf News on Thursday.

The free zone, located around 130km from Dubai, imported, exported and re-exported Dh8.4 billion worth of goods in 2014, he said at the Global Trade Development Week in Dubai.

Al Awadi did not given reason for the growth; however, a substantial amount of the business is related to the oil-bunkering terminal located with the free zone.

Al Awadi also did not say how increasing exports and imports this year will contribute to the free zone’s bottom line but did say the free zone contributes around 70 to 75 per cent of annual government revenue.

Next year, Fujairah Free Zone plans to grow the number of food and metals companies operating within the free zone, Al Awadi said, with plans to attract processing and storage businesses.