Asahi Yukizai Corporation – Japan’s leading company in industrial resins and plastic valves –  successfully held the opening ceremony for its Middle East operations at Dubai Airport Freezone – DAFZA.

The new office will play a key role in expanding the company’s business across the Middle East and North Africa region.

The opening ceremony was hosted by Mr.Nasser Al Madani, Assistant Director General at Dubai Airport Freezone Authority (DAFZA), Mr.Akima Umezawa Ph.D, Consul-General of Japan in Dubai, and Kazuya Nakano, President of Asahi Yukizai Corporation.

The event was attended by honored industry representatives, senior ranking officers from DAFZA and Dubai Economy Foreign Investment (FDI), as well as Japanese and local guests.

“Today marks a momentous milestone in our company’s history, as we make our official entry into the Middle East,” said Kazuya Nakano, President of Asahi Yukizai Corporation. “Asahi Yukizai Corporation has a long history of supporting industries in Japan and beyond, and we have built a strong reputation based on the quality of our products and our customer-centric business philosophy.

Commenting on the event, Mr.Nasser Al Madani, Assistant Director General at Dubai Airport Freezone Authority (DAFZA), said: “At Dubai Airport Freezone, we are proud to provide world class  investment facilities and services, and are very pleased to welcome Asahi Yukizai Corporation.

“UAE has strong commercial links with Japan and our two countries enjoy highly successful trade cooperation.

“Dubai Airport Freezone is already a host to a large number of Japanese companies, making up 23 per cent of our total Asia Pacific companies. These companies are taking advantage of our strategic location, tax free benefits and superb infrastructure and modern management practices, and we look forward to offering the same advantages to Asahi Yukizai Corporation.”

Asahi Yukizai Corporation was established in 1945 to develop and manufacture organic materials (such as wood and plastic etc.) as an alternative to metal materials for industrial use. In 1956 Asahi Yukizai Corporation – Japan developed the world’s first thermoplastic valves.

Today, Asahi Yukizai Corporation has a wide range of products (more than 50,000 valves and 20,000 fittings) and six overseas sales offices. The company has attained 60% of the plastic valve market share in Japan and 15 % of the market share in the world.

As a world class premium free zone and one of the most advanced and competitive free zones throughout the Middle East and across the globe, Dubai Airport Freezone is home to more than 1,600 regional and international companies.

Strategically located near one of the busiest airports in the world, DAFZA provides a vast portfolio of exceptional services, world-class facilities, advanced infrastructure, smart solutions and investment facilities.

According to DAZFA’s 2017 financial results, the free zone achieved a 25 per cent growth in its registered companies compared to the same period the previous year, with a 13 per cent growth in the number of registered multinational companies (MNCs). With this increase, MNCs now make up 36 per cent of the total number of companies in the free zone.

This growth is driven by a number of strategic initiatives that shape the future of trade and economy in line with the Dubai 2021 Plan, and contribute towards consolidating Dubai’s status as an ideal business destination.