分类： business

DUBAI – In a landmark investment for the UAE’s food manufacturing sector, Solico Group has inaugurated a state-of-the-art production facility in Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) with a capital commitment of Dh130 million ($35.4 million). The new entity, branded SoFood, represents the group’s single largest investment in the UAE and is positioned to become its regional innovation and international manufacturing headquarters for the GCC.

The purpose-built facility, spanning 5,000 square meters, incorporates advanced European manufacturing technologies with an initial production capacity of 40 tons per day. This strategic expansion significantly enhances the UAE’s food manufacturing resilience amid growing consumer demand and global supply chain considerations. The plant’s modular architectural design allows for agile entry into new food categories with minimal operational disruption.

Gholamali Soleimani, Founder and Group Chairman of Solico Group, emphasized the strategic rationale behind the investment: “The UAE has cultivated one of the world’s most dynamic ecosystems for food manufacturing and economic diversification. This facility enables us to transfer our five decades of expertise into the UAE while building manufacturing capability that will support long-term regional food security objectives.”

The production roadmap will unfold in phases, beginning with meat and protein products under Solico’s flagship Pemina brand for distribution throughout GCC markets and export channels. Subsequent phases will introduce cheese, dairy products, premixes, sauces, and co-packed solutions tailored for hotel, airline, and food service industries. These categories were specifically selected for their alignment with regional culinary preferences, localization potential, and export viability.

Beyond manufacturing, SoFood will function as Solico’s regional innovation center, developing products specifically for Middle Eastern palates while shortening supply chains to enhance product freshness. The facility also incorporates comprehensive sustainability measures including energy- and water-efficient systems, waste-minimization processes, and holds multiple certifications including ISO 22000, HACCP, Halal, and Dubai Municipality Grade A accreditation.

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, noted: “Solico’s decision to establish their largest UAE investment in Jafza underscores Dubai’s industrial ecosystem strength. This facility will strengthen food security, create high-quality employment opportunities, and advance the UAE’s ‘Make it in the Emirates’ manufacturing objectives.”

The facility’s location within the DP World-operated Jebel Ali ecosystem provides direct access to global logistics corridors, enabling Solico to reach over three billion consumers across nearby markets while supporting the UAE’s broader economic diversification strategy.

Dubai’s taxation community gathered at the Dusit Thani Hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road for the pivotal ‘Tax Ready 2026: Navigating UAE’s Evolving Tax Framework’ conference. Organized by the Taxation Society, this intensive half-day symposium assembled tax specialists, financial executives, and business proprietors to address the nation’s rapidly transforming fiscal environment as it approaches significant 2026 regulatory milestones.

The event commenced with formal addresses from Taxation Society leadership, including President Nimish Makvana and Chairman Naveen Sharma, setting the stage for substantive technical discussions. The conference garnered distinguished participation from Mirza Al Sayegh of the Al Maktoum Foundation and keynote speaker Dr. Surender Singh Kandhari, chairman of Al Dobowi Group and Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award recipient.

Technical expertise was provided by Young Global specialists who delivered comprehensive sessions on critical tax developments. Director of Indirect Taxes Yedukondalu Mallela presented practical guidance on e-invoicing implementation and VAT compliance requirements. Corporate Tax Director Marat Tastambetov elucidated complexities surrounding the UAE’s Pillar 2 framework and global minimum tax implications. Transfer pricing received dedicated attention through a joint presentation by Rishi Sapra (Founder/CEO) and Jyoti Shukla (Transfer Pricing Manager), who outlined compliance expectations and risk mitigation strategies for the coming fiscal year.

Attendees departed with enhanced preparedness for upcoming regulatory changes, equipped with actionable insights to align their organizations with the UAE’s progressive tax framework. The Taxation Society reinforced its commitment to facilitating professional development through targeted knowledge-sharing initiatives that address the dynamic needs of the business community.

The recent restoration of direct flight connectivity between India and China is generating substantial economic momentum, creating fresh pathways for bilateral trade and commercial cooperation. This development comes after a prolonged five-year hiatus that had severely constrained business interactions between the two Asian giants.

Entrepreneur Praveen Suthar’s experience exemplifies the transformative impact of renewed air links. For years, Suthar had postponed establishing a portable house manufacturing facility in Udaipur, Rajasthan, due to transportation challenges. The October resumption of direct flights between Kolkata and Guangzhou finally enabled his 12-day sourcing mission to China, resulting in a fully approved manufacturing plant that will employ approximately 400 local workers.

“We maintain significant dependence on China for high-tech raw materials that remain consistently cost-effective,” stated Suthar, who also chairs the Federation of Rajasthan Trade and Industry. The direct flight service has transformed previously cumbersome travel into viable business operations.

The aviation restoration includes multiple routes: IndiGo’s Kolkata-Guangzhou service (resumed October 26), China Eastern Airlines’ daily Delhi-Shanghai connection (launched January 2), and anticipated reinstatements of Kolkata-Kunming and Mumbai-Shanghai routes according to Chinese embassy statements.

Business advocates highlight the psychological significance of these developments. Santosh Pai, a cross-border business advisor and scholar at New Delhi’s Institute of Chinese Studies, observed: “Direct flights carry enormous signaling effect. Companies from both nations that had suspended plans are now proactively accelerating trade activities. Chinese firms have recommenced exploratory visits to India while Indian businesses are formulating new strategies.”

The timing proves particularly fortuitous as Indian exporters seek alternatives to challenging market conditions. With United States tariffs imposing 50 percent duties on various Indian goods, exporters are actively diversifying toward Chinese markets. Jagdish Kumar, an Indian seafood exporter, noted the strategic shift: “American tariffs have severely impacted export viability, making Chinese market alternatives increasingly attractive.”

Early indicators suggest this diversification is already underway. India’s seafood exports to China have surged 9 percent year-over-year, according to Gibinkumar T.R., secretary of India’s Marine Products Export Development Authority. This trend is expected to accelerate amid ongoing trade tensions.

Ramachander Poodipeddi, public affairs lead for a Chinese multinational in India, emphasized the operational benefits: “Enhanced connectivity enables more sincere business engagement with greater commitment.”

Ajay Sahai, director-general of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations, projected broader implications: “Increased flight connectivity will stimulate business interactions that benefit both nations and potentially strengthen the global economic landscape in coming weeks.”

The aviation restoration aligns with diplomatic developments, including the December 12 bilateral agreement to enhance institutional dialogue, manage differences, and strengthen multilateral coordination—particularly regarding Global South interests.

A bipartisan coalition of state governors joined Trump administration officials in a unified push on Friday, demanding urgent action from the nation’s largest grid operator to expand electricity generation capacity. The extraordinary pressure campaign targets PJM Interconnection, which manages the mid-Atlantic power network serving 13 states and Washington D.C., amid growing concerns that artificial intelligence development could trigger widespread blackouts while dramatically increasing consumer electricity costs.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum framed the situation as a national security imperative, stating that winning the AI race against China requires massive power infrastructure investments. “We know that with the demands of AI and the productivity that comes with that, it’s going to transform every job and every company,” Burgum told reporters at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. “But we need to be able to power that in the race we are in against China.”

The proposed solution involves creating a specialized power auction allowing technology companies to directly bid on contracts for new power plant construction. This market-based approach would shift the financial burden of data center energy needs from residential consumers to the tech corporations driving demand. Additionally, officials want PJM to extend wholesale electricity price caps implemented last year that limit consumer cost increases through mid-2028.

Governors Glenn Youngkin (Virginia), Wes Moore (Maryland), and Josh Shapiro (Pennsylvania) expressed mounting frustration with PJM’s response to the crisis. Moore emphasized that “we need for PJM to take action, we need for PJM to take it seriously,” while Youngkin characterized the situation as a “massive, massive crisis.”

The urgency stems from alarming trends: analysts warn that data centers are consuming increasingly enormous power resources, with mid-Atlantic ratepayers already covering billions in infrastructure costs for facilities that haven’t been built. Meanwhile, electricity bills are rising faster than inflation nationwide, with many Americans falling behind on payments.

Industry representatives from the Edison Electric Institute support the innovative bidding concept, though energy market experts question its feasibility within existing regulatory frameworks. Rob Gramlich of Grid Strategies LLC noted that PJM faces unique challenges, including longer permitting processes than states like Texas and complications from energy deregulation that left utilities without long-term power contracts.

The standoff highlights the complex balance between technological advancement, consumer protection, and infrastructure development as America’s power grid faces unprecedented demands from the digital economy.

A comprehensive survey conducted by the American Chamber of Commerce in China indicates that U.S. corporations operating in China now perceive the nation’s economic deceleration as a more pressing concern than bilateral trade disputes. The report, published Friday, reveals that 64% of the 368 responding companies identify China’s slowing growth as their primary challenge, while 58% cite ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions as a significant obstacle.

This shifting priority reflects the substantial footprint of American businesses within China’s domestic market, which serves approximately 1.4 billion consumers. Many of these enterprises maintain operations focused exclusively on Chinese market consumption rather than export-oriented models.

Economic projections suggest China’s expansion will continue moderating this year following an approximate 5% growth rate in 2025. Last year’s export performance exceeded import growth, resulting in a record trade surplus nearing $1.2 trillion.

Despite these challenges, business sentiment has demonstrated improvement compared to previous years. Over half of surveyed companies reported profitability in 2025, marking a significant increase from the previous year’s figures. This optimism persists even as overall foreign direct investment in China declined by 7.5% year-over-year during the first eleven months of 2025, totaling 693 billion yuan ($99 billion).

The current trade truce between Washington and Beijing, established after President Trump’s reinstatement of tariffs reaching 145% on Chinese imports, has provided some operational stability. Anticipated diplomatic exchanges, including Trump’s potential April visit to Beijing and reciprocal travel by Chinese leader Xi Jinping to the United States, may further influence commercial relations.

AmCham China President Michael Hart emphasized during a media briefing that while companies acknowledge political realities, their focus remains on capitalizing on business opportunities. He noted perceived Chinese government interest in maintaining foreign investment channels, particularly from American enterprises.

The survey conducted between October 22 and November 20, 2023, coincided with the extension of the U.S.-China trade truce agreement during the leaders’ meeting in South Korea.