Dubai Outsource Zone (DOZ) is neither competing with India nor is it expensive, according to a top official.

'We are not competing with India and does not want to either. We are not expensive too. If you go to India, the Philippines or the US they are expensive,' director of Dubai Outsource Zone Esmail Al Naqi is quoted to have said in a report in the Gulf News.

'We are growing higher on the value chain by attracting knowledge and talented people. We have tripled in size of buildings, and nine-fold by land, from last year, we started with three million square feet and now we have 33 million square feet, company-wise we have doubled. A lot of people have misunderstood that we have started the zone in a bid to attract companies from India, but it is not true.

'We are trying to cater to local markets. Because India today cannot service Arabic, Italian, Spanish, and French speaking people. It is where the value of Dubai comes. Dubai Outsource Zone is a pure zone servicing to the people.

'If you look at Indian companies, they are looking to broaden their reach by setting up in Dubai,' he said.

The vision of DOZ, part of the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone, is to become an efficient and leading provider of services to foster the growth of Dubai's knowledge-based economy and the mission is to provide a comprehensive infrastructure and environment for outsource companies to set up global or regional hubs servicing the worldwide market, the report added.

'India today recruits from Dubai, believe it or not. They pay 40-50 per cent more than what Dubai pays. India is no longer a cheap place,' Al Naqi is quoted to have added.

In Dubai Outsource Zone, we have managed to control the cost of living. For example, the price for commercial space in the zone is one third that of Dubai on Shaikh Zayed Road, he said.

DOZ has 72 companies registered and will be fully operational in 2007, the report added.

Source: tradearabia