GSL Marks another Milestone in Quality Standard Compliance

Adding to its long list of certifications for international standards, After its initial certification by SGS in 2011, GSL was re-certified compliant on September 2012 with BRC (S&D) global standard for "Storage & Distribution of frozen, chilled and ambient food and non-food contract packing as a contracted service”.

Established by the British Retail Consortium (BRC), this certification gives Global Shipping & Logistics LLC, the competitive edge by demonstrating highest standard of compliance and competence in food and product safety.

GSL triumphs a new in its pursuit of outstanding quality and operational excellence and prides itself in being THE ONLY 3PL service provider in the UAE compliant with 6 global standards in ISO 22000:2005 (Food Safety Management); ISO 9001:2008 (Quality Management); ISO 14001:2004 (Environmental Management); OHSAS 18001:2007 (Occupational Health & Safety); HACCP (Hazard Analysis & Critical Points); and BRC for Storage & Distribution.

 

Dubai Exports ties up with GSL
Dubai Exports, the export promotion agency of the Department of Economic Development - Government of Dubai, has brought select third party logistics (3PL) providers to its partnership network as part of extending world class, value added services and capabilities to exporters in Dubai.

“As a government facilitator of trade in Dubai, we are constantly seeking ways to provide value added third party services, such as Credit insurance, Product Certification etc. to exporters,” CEO of Dubai Exports Engineer Saaed Al Awadi said.

“In 2011, our partners in Product Inspection, Certification and Testing directly facilitated our members in Dhs50 million worth of exports through various value added services. In 2012, those exports reached nearly Dhs130 million within the first eight months. We look forward to achieving greater successes with our new 3PL partners,” Al Awadi added.

Global Shipping & Logistics (GSL) is a leading 3PL provider, strategically located in DIP. “GSL’s customer loyalty, extensive experience, quality, and integrated infrastructure have made the company the custodian of many premium global brands and multinational corporations. Through this partnership with Dubai Exports we aim to provide value added services to both manufacturers and traders seeking 3PL services, thereby facilitating their contribution to the nation’s GDP,” said Khalid Al Shirawi, CEO, GSL.

“The new 3PL partnership will be a significant addition to Dubai Exports’ initiatives to promote exports and re-exports of local firms and facilitate their access to new markets,” Al Awadi added.

Logistics being an integral part of the export process, the partnership will also allow exporters to enhance operational efficiencies and gain cutting edge market knowledge.

Etihad Rail signs logistics deal with GSL

Etihad Rail — the master developer and operator of the UAE’s national railway network om Monday announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dubai-based Global Shipping & Logistics LLC (GSL), a subsidiary of the Al Shirawi Group of companies and a leading third party logistics provider.

The agreement will see GSL use the Etihad Rail network for cold chain — a temperature-controlled supply chain — for which rail brings many benefits.

The MoU, which was signed by Dr. Nasser Saif Al Mansouri, CEO of Etihad Rail, and Khalid Al Shirawi, CEO of GSL, is a strategic move for GSL, whose client base includes international and local brands of premium restaurant chains and food items. The agreement will offer GSL’s clients a lower risk cold chain, particularly over long distances, and with a safer, more efficient, and more environmentally-friendly mode of transport than trucks.

Since its inception in 1975, GSL has been a key player in the burgeoning third party logistics sector of the UAE. The company has now established itself as a complete supply chain management solution provider, boasting state-of-the-art facilities for customers’ complex cold and temperature-controlled warehousing, freight management and distribution requirements.

“Etihad Rail aims to offer customised solutions to UAE businesses to foster growth within the UAE. We are proud to provide GSL — a leading UAE-based third party logistics provider — reach into the Mena [Middle East and North Africa] region and Asia with a sustainable transportation solution that will positively impact their customers and the UAE community,” said Al-Mansoori,

“We anticipate that using rail will create a lower cost and more reliable and effective cold chain for our customers, in particular those who are distributing perishable goods to the GCC market,” said Al Shirawi.

Monday’s signing with GSL follows Etihad Rail’s recent MoU signings with HOYER Global Transport and DHL. HOYER Global Transport will use the railway for the transport of liquid bulk, and DHL will use the railway network to meet its customers’ growing logistical needs. Etihad Rail has also signed agreements with other customers across a range of industries including Al Dahra, Emirates Steel, Arkan, etisalat and du. While Al Dahra will use rail to transport hay, Emirates Steel and Arkan plan to transport their raw and finished materials via the railway, and du and etisalat will benefit from access to the network’s infrastructure to expand their growing network and customer base.

Upon completion, the Etihad Rail network — which will cater to both freight and passengers — will span a total of 1,200 km across the Emirates. It will connect urban and remote communities, facilitate trade, open up communication channels and foster economic development. The network will also form a vital part of the GCC Railway Network — linking the UAE to Saudi Arabia via Ghweifat in the west and Oman via Al Ain in the east. Construction work on Stage One, which links Shah and Habshan to Ruwais, is well underway, and the tendering process is already in progress for Stage Two, which will connect the railway to Mussafah, to the Gulf ports (Khalifa and Jebel Ali Ports) and the Saudi and Omani borders.

Dubai Customs has issued a license for GSL

Dubai Customs has issued a license for Global Shipping and Logistics (GSL) as the first Public Customs Warehouse Operator, in line with the customs procedure specified by the Common Customs Law of the GCC States for depositing imported goods by companies under customs control without payment of customs duties until sold in the local market or re-exported outside the country. These goods are subject to a bank or cash guarantee against the payable customs duties or any fees or other service charges, including fines if applicable to the deposited goods.

There are two types of customs warehouses namely: private customs warehouses and public customs warehouses.

The license was handed over at the Dubai Customs main building in the presence of Mr. Yousef Al Sahlawi, Senior Executive Director of Corporate Affairs; Khalid Al Sherawi, Chief Executive Officer of Global Shipping & Logistics; and a number of department directors at Dubai Customs.

Commenting on the issuance of the license, Mr. Sahlawi said that the services offered by GSL are in the field of shipping, clearing and warehousing operations.

“We are pleased to have GSL as the first Public Customs Warehouse Licensee, to accept goods deposited by other companies,” said Mr. Al Sahlawi.

GSL is the first-of-its-kind company to be licensed for Public Customs Warehouses System. The number of customs warehouses is expected to increase as Dubai Customs introduces the service within the business and logistics community and creates awareness about the benefits that customs warehouse operators may gain.

The Traders, shipping companies, auto agencies and import and export companies may benefit from both types of customs warehouses and submit online applications for a customs warehouse registration and license via the Dubai Trade Portal or Dubai Customs website. The licensing process will not exceed five business days subject to the required conditions.

There are 19 private customs warehouse licensees, while the number of processed customs warehouse declarations has reached 5,397 during the first quarter of 2012, collectively worth around AED 2 billion.

Dubai Customs earlier conducted an introductory workshop on customs warehouses for 100 import, export and re-export companies operating in the UAE. The workshop was organized as part of a series of workshops that focus on procedures for obtaining licenses to establish customs warehouses, and benefits provided by these warehouses.

“Such procedures are carried out under customs supervision through the Customs Warehouse Electronic Inventory. It is also conducted to validate the contents of consignments based on the customs warehouse declaration prepared for the deposited goods and the customs warehouse exit declaration for goods taken out from the warehouses as per the required customs procedure (for the local market, re-export or depositing in free zones),” said Mr. Al Sahlawi.

“Customs warehouses are important for Dubai Customs as they facilitate supervision over deposited goods where Dubai Customs may reconcile the imported goods with those being re-exported outside the country together with their role in generating revenue,” he added.

The licensing and renewal of private warehouse license fees are AED 25,000 and public customs warehouses fees are AED150,000. Wider expansion in these warehouses will boost import activities because it helps traders clear their goods at the customs ports without paying direct customs duties. It also allows them to store their goods in the customs warehouses for a period of two years subject to extending it for a third year until it is made available for local consumption or re-exported outside the country. This is in addition to many other benefits that owners of a warehouse can enjoy. Some of these benefits include discharging of goods in phases, e.g. promotion and transfer of goods during festivals and certain seasons. The warehouses also reduce the loss for traders that they may incur due to the absence of cash guarantee in the event of failure to re-export the goods within the legal grace period (6 months) in the case of goods imported for re-exportation. It also helps importers to take samples from their deposited goods to display in markets.

On his part, Khalid Al Sherawi, Chief Executive Officer of Global Shipping & Logistics, expressed his gratitude to Dubai Customs for entrusting GSL and naming it the first logistics company to operate the Public Customs Warehouses System in Dubai. This accreditation places GSL among the leading logistics companies who are satisfying the increasing supply requirements through consolidating their trade presence in the region.

“Since its inception in 1975 as a shipping agent, GSL has been keen on strengthening the relations with the trade community and Dubai Customs,” Mr. Al Sherawi added.

“GSL is a part of Al Sherawi Group, providing a series of high quality solutions to all its clients at the national and international levels by setting up chilled warehouses and others at different temperatures together with shipping management of shipping, distribution and packing requirements,” he pointed out.

Original News Source:

http://www.albawaba.com/business/pr/customs-warehouse-system-430596

http://www.ameinfo.com/dubai-customs-issues-public-customs-warehouse-304281