Ducab signs cable supply deal with Municipality

Ducab expects to provide Dubai Municipality with 30 kilometres of electric cables under a two-year supply contract signed yesterday, according to Ducab senior executives.

Under the agreement, Ducab will meet the Municipality's requirements for all kinds and sizes of cables for road lighting and will provide it with technical support services and testing facilities.

Ducab has been supplying the Municipality with cables for several years, but yesterday's agreement enhances the evidence of Ducab's operational quality and commitment to its clients' interests, said Farid Mohammed Ahmed, Ducab general manager for sales and marketing.

"Sizes of orders will depend on municipal needs and their projections every three months. The contract will also reduce municipal administrative costs of loading and unloading cables every six months to warehouses by going straight to project locations," he said.

Ducab is ready to negotiate similar agreements with other clients including local water and electricity departments, Dubai Department of Civil Aviation, the Armed Forces headquarters, Ministry of Electricity and Water, Ministry of Public Works and others. It signed a similar supply agreement with Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority two years ago.

Ahmed said that electric cables will be immediately supplied to the Municipality's project locations and municipal contractors will place direct orders to Ducab when required, thus making substantial cost savings for the Municipality.

Abdulla Rafe'e, director of the Municipality's Contracts and Purchasing Department, said the Municipality will enlist company products as part of the mandatory specifications for various civic projects.

"Ducab has also pledged to provide technical services and reports on the latest developments in cables and offer consultancy services to the Municipality whenever required." Rafe'e and Ahmed rejected views that the supply contract is a protectionist move against Ducab's competitors.

"There is no monopoly against contractors. The market is still open for everybody, but in general 10 per cent preference is given to local industry. Ducab has global standards and competitive prices," said Rafe'e.

Ahmed said, "Dubai and the UAE have always been an open market. Ducab has been catering to Dubai Municipality's road lighting projects based on its ability to compete in international markets. The contract is a continuation of what has been there for years."