DUBAI 4th February 2016 (WAM) -- Jamal Majid Bin Thaniah Chairman of Dubai Trade has congratulated the winners of the 8th E-Services Excellence Awards ESEA presented by Dubai Trade to its users for their efforts in implementing e-services in trade and logistics.

The award distribution ceremony was held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Deputy Ruler of Dubai and was attended by Jamal Majid bin Thaniah Chairman of Dubai Trade Juma Mohamed Al Kait Assistant Under-Secretary for Foreign Trade Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Economy Mohammed Al Muallem Senior Vice President and Managing Director of DP World - UAE Region and Board Member of Dubai Trade Ahmed Mahboob Musabih Dubai Customs Director Ibrahim Mohamed Aljanahi Jafza Deputy CEO and Chief Commercial Officer Ali Ibrahim Ismail Deputy Director General of the Department of Economic Development Government of Dubai Mahmood Al Bastaki CEO of Dubai Trade DP World terminal managers from around the world and senior representatives from government organisations financial institutions and the media.

Al-Futtaim Logistics LLC won the Smart Services Award for M-Token Services with National Fire Fighting Manufacturing FZCO as runner-up. Agility Global Logistics FZE won the Smart Services Award for Free Zone Services with T. D. Williamson Middle East FZE runner-up. National Fire Fighting Manufacturing FZCO won the Smart Services Award for Clearance Services with Unique Sea Cargo Services runner-up. NAFFCO Shipping and Forwarding won the Smart Services Award for Payment Services with Vibrant Freight as runner-up. Dubai Trade Innovative Award of the Year for the best innovation project in trade and logistics was presented to Al Futtaim Logistics.

Dubai Exports also partnered with Dubai Trade in recognising exporters with the New Exporter of the Year Award won by Bilal Mohd Ballout and Natural Way Sweets as runner-up. The Innovative Exporter of the Year was awarded to Taghleef Industries with NAFFCO FZCO as runner-up.

In his keynote address bin Thaniah urged attendees to seek opportunities and embrace change despite the geopolitical changes in the region and the decline in global oil prices.

He said "Innovation is part of Dubai's fabric thanks to the mandate of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai who marked 2015 as the Year of Innovation.

"The winners of the awards have pioneered smart services and stimulated trade and exports in Dubai. Thanks to our visionary leadership we are leading the world in smart services and have seamlessly integrated trade and logistics processes on customer friendly platforms using innovative technologies. Together we are building the future to ensure Dubai's position as one of the most efficient trade hubs in the world."

Abdullah Al Saleh Under-SecretaryForeign Trade Sector at the UAE Ministry of Economy said the Ministry was proud to be a strategic supporter of the event. "Dubai Trade has become synonymous with innovation leading the region in smart services so boosting the trade and logistics sector and stimulating use of the Dubai Trade Portal to conduct business easily" he added.

CEO of Dubai Trade Mahmood Al Bastaki highlighted the growth in trade in the country and the use of the Dubai Trade portal. He said "UAE Foreign trade was AED 966 billion in the first 3 quarters of 2015 and we hope to make AED 1.3 trillion by the end of the year. Much of this trade came from some 19.5 million transactions through the Dubai Trade portal a 6% increase saving the trading community tremendous amounts of valuable time and money."

WAM/AAMIR/Moran