Tecom Business Parks welcomes 549 new business partners during 2013

TECOM Business Parks (TBP) released today a report overviewing its 2013 performance and outlining its strategic approach for the rest of 2014. TBP, which comprises TECOM Investments' nine free zones, saw significant growth in the number of partners over the course of 2013, with 549 new business partners welcomed during the year. Over the course of 2013, notable expansions within TECOM's business parks included, Amity University, Sony Music Middle East, Publicis, Hewlett Packard, Dell and IBM Middle East. The success of TECOM's offering is evidenced by the fact that business partner expansion across the business parks is the equivalent of 11% of the total leasable area of TBP's free zones. Accordin to the report, 2013 has been notable by the ICT Cluster adding 181 new business partners, the Sciences Cluster adding 57, the Education Cluster adding 67, and the Media Cluster grew by 233 business partners. At an operational level, Dubai Studio City launched its second state-of-the-art Sound Stage, providing an operating environment for media production and boosting Dubai's growing film industry. Dubai Internet City inaugurated In5, a start-up innovation center providing mentorship, support and a dynamic and engaging working environment to entrepreneurs and small businesses. Dubai International Academic City launched the Workforce Planning Study, demonstrating industry leadership and insight. In support of the Emirate as it prepares and plans for the future skills requirements of business and the wider economy, DIAC's universities launched 35 new programmes during 2013. TBP continues to contribute to the Dubai government's EXPO 2020 strategy as well as its ambition to become a Smart City driven by innovation, the global capital for the Islamic Economy and an international leader in creating a Green Economy. In response to increased demand from investors seeking to grow their regional and domestic business propositions, TECOM has launched a number of new commercial projects across its prime locations. Commenting on the performance Malek Al Malek, CEO, TECOM Business Parks, said: "2013 was an impressive year for TECOM's free zones. Our industry focused clusters performed ahead of expectations, adding a significant number of new business partners and growing existing ones, which has helped to further develop the industries at large as well as our dynamic and collaborative communities. "TECOM Business Parks has continued its track record of year on year growth in terms of gaining new business partners, as well as positioning itself at the forefront of developing a knowledge economy and service offering that is in line with the government of Dubai's vision." He further stated, "We recognise the opportunities, both for the Emirate and TECOM that are provided by a number of major initiatives the government is now pursuing. These lie within our strategic vision to actively support and contribute to the Emirate's EXPO 2020 strategy, Smart Dubai initiative, as well as being a leader in the green economy and becoming the global capital of the Islamic economy. Our industries have already played a key role in shaping Dubai's business economy and we aim to proceed in this direction."