Dubai looks to Hamburg to become best port in Middle East and Asia

As Dubai aims to become the best port in Middle East and Asia, it is looking at Hamburg for lessons to learn about the shipping and logistics industry.

"We are looking at Hamburg, which is the second largest container port in Europe, even though it is on a river and ours is on the sea," said Hesham Al Shirawi, vice president of Dubai Chamber of Commerce. "In Dubai, we are trying to become the best possible port, not only in the region, but in Asia. It won't be easy and it won't be fast, but it is possible," he added. Al Shirawi was speaking at the Dubai-Hamburg business forum. Hamburg Port recorded a volume of 140 million tonnes of cargo in 2007 and 9.9 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent container units). Around 50 per cent of the world container fleet is managed by Hamburg-based enterprises, according to Hans-Jorg Schmidt-Trenz, chief executive of Hamburg Chamber of Commerce. "It is clear that Dubai looks to Hamburg to foster its own harbour function," Schmidt-Trenz said.
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