Bharat Mart, India‘s projected warehousing facility in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), will be operational by 2025, according to the officials. The facility, similar to China‘s, intends to create a platform for Indian exporters to showcase their products under one roof.
Although the plan is still being finalized, authorities told Et that Bharat Mart will likely occupy an area of more than 100,000 square meters and will function as a multipurpose complex with a mix of warehouse, retail, and hospitality units.
The goal is to create a base and conduct business with the UAE. Reportedly, an official said the basis of this project is the availability of similar facilities in China that have benefited their exporters.
The initiative is noteworthy because India and the UAE have set a goal of doubling non-petroleum trade to $100 billion by 2030 as part of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which went into effect last year.
According to Et, the facility will be built in the Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), a subsidiary of DP World. According to Abdulla Al Hashmi, Chief Operating Officer of Parks and Zones at DP World GCC, Bharat Mart is poised to become a key distribution hub supporting the export of Indian products globally. This will benefit Indian enterprises looking to grow into Africa, Europe, and the United States, he says.
Hashmi went on to say that the service will help save the time and cost of moving goods between India and these countries.
Bharat Mart will include retail showrooms, warehouses, offices, and other ancillary buildings designed to hold a wide range of goods, from perishables to heavy machines. There is also the prospect of creating a digital platform via which global purchasers can purchase commodities from the facility.The Federation of Indian Export Organizations’ Director General, Ajay Sahai, stressed the importance of Bharat Mart in allowing Indian exporters to promote their products not only to buyers in the Middle East but also to clients in Africa and Central Asia. Sahai further said that the UAE’s financial choices and logistics infrastructure make the process easier.