The Dubai Flower Centre (DFC), located at the Dubai International Airport, wants major Indian exporters to use its facilities as a transhipment hub to reach out to regional, European and American markets.

‘We already have one Indian tenant – Thakur Flowers from Mumbai. We hope to have more Indian tenants keen to tap international market. Our facilities cater not just for flowers but anything that is perishable and needs a cool chain, like fruits, vegetables and meat,’ Ibrahim Ahli, the DFC marketing director, told IANS.

‘In the first month of starting operations we handled 5,600 tonnes of perishables which augurs well for our facilities that are equipped to handle upto 180,000 tonnes,’ said Ahli.

Promoting DFC at the ongoing Second International Flora Expo being held in the capital, Ahli said the centre offers efficient cool chain processes that would help to maximise the shelf life of perishables.

Set up with an investment of around $70 million, DFC also offers several value-added services that would help exporters enhance value of the products and not only tap the local market but also reach other destinations.

Ahli and his team are interacting with the large number of participants at the three-day flora and landscaping show organised by the state-run Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) here.

Ahli disclosed that he would also be travelling to Bangalore and Pune, which are major floriculture and horticulture hubs, to meet farmers and make them aware of advantages offered by setting up operations in DFC, which offers connectivity to global markets through 112 airlines operating through Dubai International Airport.

‘Though in operation for just two months (it formally opened on July 11), DFC is designed as a free trade zone that would offer one-stop shop for local and international buyers, traders, producers and exporters. Dubai itself is a big growing market,’ said the official.

© 2006 Indo-Asian News Service