Bhopal: On the third day of his Dubai visit, Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav met senior officials of DP World and Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) and discussed in detail the “Bharat Mart” project and the logistics possibilities associated with it. This meeting is being considered a historic initiative towards connecting India’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to the global market.
Describing Bharat Mart as a “gateway to global trade”, Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that this modern trade center will provide direct access to Indian products, especially products like food processing, agriculture and handicrafts, to markets like Middle East, Africa and Europe. Bharat Mart will become operational in 2026 and will give a new direction to the policy of ‘Local to Global’.
“Bharat Mart” a symbol of business relations between India and UAE
Bharat Mart is a multi-faceted international business centre being developed in Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), Dubai spanning approximately 2.7 million sq ft. Its foundation stone was jointly laid by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai in February 2024. The centre is being operated by DP World and will include over 1500 showrooms, state-of-the-art warehouse and office facilities.
This project is being designed to provide a global platform to Indian MSMEs so that they can easily export their quality products. Bharat Mart will become a strong pillar to increase India’s share in global trade.
Seamless logistics connectivity from Madhya Pradesh to Bharat Mart
In the meeting, the proposed rail terminal by DP World in Madhya Pradesh and the Ujjain-Nagda route were particularly highlighted as a crucial medium for seamless supply of goods to Bharat Mart. This logistics connectivity will ensure fast, economical and smooth transportation of goods from India to Dubai, which will directly benefit the exporters of the state.
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said, “Our government is considering this journey not only as a business but also as the foundation of Madhya Pradesh’s economic future. Through Bharat Mart, our state will become a strong link in the global supply chain.”
DP World: A promising partner for India and Madhya Pradesh
DP World, based in Dubai, is a leading global logistics and supply chain solutions provider that operates more than 100 terminals and ports in over 78 countries. It is one of the world’s largest port operators, handling 70 million TEU containers per year.
Operations in India
DP World operates six terminals at major ports in India such as Mumbai, Mundra, Cochin, Chennai and Visakhapatnam. It also manages cold chain logistics, container freight stations and export-import services.
Showed interest in the development of dry port in M.P.
DP World has shown keen interest in developing Inland Container Depot (ICD), Multimodal Logistics Park (MMLP), Agri-Logistics Hub and Dry Port in Madhya Pradesh. This is in line with the state’s logistics and export policy, and is a step towards strengthening long-term infrastructure development through Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
