Sharjah Ports & "Delaware" Sign Sister Port Agreement

14th October 2018

Sheikh Khaled bin Abdullah bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Seaports & Customs, Sharjah Airport International Free Zone and Hamriyah Free Zone Authority, and Jeffrey Bullock, Secretary of State of Delaware (USA), signed Sister Port Agreement at the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry on October 10 2018.

According to the deal the Department of Seaports & Customs and the Diamond State Port Corporation, a corporate entity of the State of Delaware, are mandated to corporate in the development of international trade and logistics, exchange information, and build mutually beneficial commercial, technological partnership. The agreement also enables private companies within the catchment area of the respective port authorities to collaborate on trade and investment prospects.

The signing took place following the official handover of the Delaware-based Port of Wilmington from the Diamond State Port Corporation to Gulftainer to operate and develop the port over a 50-year concession period.  Gulftainer is  Container Terminal Operator in the Emirate of Sharjah, one of the world’s largest privately-owned independent port operator and logistics company based in the UAE.

In attendance were high officials including H.E. Marwan Jassim Al Sarkal, Executive Chairman of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq). H.E Philip Frayne, Consol General to the United States  Consulate in Dubai, H. E. Mohammed Meer Abdul Rahma, Director of the Department of Seaports & Customs, H. E. Saud Salim Al Mazrouei, Director of the Free Zones in Sharjah, Peter Richards, Group CEO of Gulftainer, Badr Jafar, Chairman of Gulftainer’s Executive Board, and an American delegation.