Trakhees joins WLP

DUBAI 10 August, 2021 The World Logistics Passport (WLP), the world’s first freight loyalty programme designed to increase trading opportunities between markets and accelerate the flow of global trade, is expanding in Dubai with the registration of the Department of Planning and Development - Trakhees – the regulatory arm of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation in Dubai (PCFC).

Registering as a Partner, Trakhees joins the Dubai-based global hub’s roster of leading organisations, including PCFC, Emirates SkyCargo, and DP World among others, and will enable businesses with a WLP Membership to benefit from enhanced efficiencies that will facilitate the continued growth of Dubai’s non-oil external trade.

On the occasion of this partnership, His Excellency Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, the Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, praised the WLP programme for its contribution to increasing and improving international trade. He expressed his optimism about Trakhees joining the WLP freight loyalty programme as a partner, as this will support it in its mission to enhance and develop its services in the country.

He also highlighted that the recent partnership between WLP and Trakhees will support the economy, by enhancing productivity within the national logistics sector.

Mike Bhaskaran, CEO, WLP, said: “We are proud of the WLP’s milestone achievements since its launch. To date, we count more than 15 countries in the WLP network and 15 partners in our Dubai Hub. We will continue to make steady strides to bolster trade with countries worldwide and identify opportunities that will strengthen relations across the WLP.”

Recent statistics indicate a 10 per cent growth in Dubai’s non-oil external trade in the first quarter of the year, and trade through free zones in particular rose up by 2 per cent to AED 135 billion – both positive indicators of the country’s rapid economic recovery.

For his part, Eng. Abdullah Belhoul, CEO of the Department of Planning and Development - Trakhees, welcomed the agreement,

“With plans geared towards furthering the growth of global trade, the addition of Trakhees will without a doubt facilitate faster trade and optimise costs for WLP members, which in turn will encourage more trade activity,” added Bhaskaran.

The WLP was launched at the 2020 World Economic Forum in Davos and is designed to provide traders with benefits to facilitate access to new markets and diversify trade. As the world’s first multi-modal global freight loyalty scheme, the WLP offers businesses an array of membership benefits, including quicker clearance and priority handling, which significantly reduces supply chain costs – ultimately making moving goods and services faster and more efficient.

As demonstrated in fully operational hubs, traders and freight forwarders that are members of the WLP can expect to have an annual increase in trade on average of up to 5-10%. Free to join, the WLP is inclusive, covering the entire trade ecosystem from freight and logistics to trade finance.