Mayor of London Backs London Gateway as Global
Trade Hub & Regional Job Creator
Britain’s new deep sea container port will create 27,700 jobs for London and the
South East and contribute £2.4bn to its economy
Boris Johnson climbs the tallest port cranes at UK’s new global trade hub
London, 30 July 2013: The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, was today welcomed to DP
World London Gateway by DP World Vice Chairman Jamal Majid Bin Thaniah and London
Gateway CEO, Simon Moore, as new figures* show that the development will deliver 27,700
jobs in London and the wider South East region** as well as contribute £2.4 billion to its
annual GDP.
Today’s visit comes just weeks after the announcement that Marks & Spencer will build a
900,000 square foot distribution centre on the site, which is just 25 miles from Central
London. London Gateway’s logistics park will be Europe’s largest and will see deep-sea
cargo sent directly to the market from distribution centres at London Gateway, removing the
time and cost associated with movement of goods via inland distribution centres.
The Mayor visited DP World’s Dubai headquarters in April, where he was shown Jebel Ali
port, the model for London Gateway, by Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, DP World Chairman
and Mr Bin Thaniah.
Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “London is set to regain its position as one of the
world’s greatest ports, and establish itself once again as a gateway to world trade. This
gargantuan site will create tens of thousands of jobs in our capital and the South East, whilst
helping to drive continued prosperity for the rest of the UK. DP World’s investment is a huge
boost to the economy and a massive vote of confidence in London’s future.”
DP World Vice Chairman Jamal Majid Bin Thaniah said: “London Gateway is a unique
development for the UK, bringing DP World’s values of delivering excellent supply chain
solutions for our global customers.
“We are delighted to be able to welcome the Mayor of London to see for himself the scale of
the site, which is three times as large as the City of London. With some 3,500 construction
workers employed every day and thousands of long term jobs to be created, this is a huge
inward investment by DP World into the UK.”
London Gateway CEO, Simon Moore said: “As an island nation, we have a tradition of
trading with global partners and London Gateway will ensure that this tradition continues.
“Whilst we are the UK’s new global hub port, by virtue of our location near London, this port
will bring fantastic benefits to the region. We are creating work, reducing the number of
lorries on our roads and saving businesses up to £200 for every container moving to or from
the London and surrounding market. If you have a business that imports or exports, London
Gateway makes sense on every level.”
Major retailers have recognised the savings offered through London Gateway’s distinct
location advantage, including Marks & Spencer, the first business to announce its use of the
logistics park, when Marc Bolland, Chief Executive of Marks & Spencer, said: “As we
become an international, multichannel retailer, London Gateway will help us become more
efficient by cutting costs and locating our supply chain closer to our stores and our
international markets. It will also help us deliver against our Plan A objectives by removing
road miles and emissions from our network.”
ENDS
*London and wider South East region defined as London, South East of England and the East of
England
**Oxford Economics, July 2013
About London Gateway
Opening in Q4 2013, London Gateway will be the UK’s first 21st Century major deep-sea container
port and Europe’s largest logistics park. Owned and operated by DP World and situated on the north
bank of the River Thames, London Gateway will provide unrivalled deep-sea shipping access to the
largest consumer markets in the UK. The port's location, with its superior operational systems and
service, will ensure ships load and unload as fast as possible, making London Gateway a world class
asset for the UK.
About the jobs and growth figures
According to Oxford Economics’ forecasts, once operational, London Gateway will contribute £3.2
billion to annual British GDP and 36,000 jobs, with the capital and wider region benefitting from £2.4
billion each year and 27,700 jobs.
About DP World
DP World has a portfolio of more than 65 marine terminals across six continents (1), including new
developments underway in India, Africa, Europe, South America and the Middle East.
Container handling is the company’s core business and generates around 80% of its revenue. In
2012, DP World handled more than 56 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent container units). With its
committed pipeline of developments and expansions, capacity is expected to rise to more than 100
million TEU by 2020, in line with market demand.
DP World has a dedicated, experienced and professional team of 28,000 people serving its
customers around the world, and the company constantly invests in terminal infrastructure, facilities
and people to provide quality services today and tomorrow, when and where customers need them. In
taking this customer-centric approach, DP World is building on the established relationships and
superior level of service demonstrated at its flagship Jebel Ali facility in Dubai, which has been voted
“Best Seaport in the Middle East” for 19 consecutive years. www.dpworld.com
(1) As of June 2013.
Press Enquiries
Email: londongateway@edelman.com
Xavier Woodward – London Gateway Communications Manager
Cell: + 44 (0)774 862 3423 or email Xavier.woodward@dpworld.com
Tom Conroy – London Gateway Communications Officer
Cell: + 44 (0)777 069 2139 or email tom.conroy@dpworld.com
GLA media enquiries: Media seeking additional information relating to the Mayor should email
transportdesk@london.gov.uk or call 020 7983 4070
GENERAL PUBLIC/NON-MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Call the Public Liaison Unit at the Greater London
Authority on 020 7983 4100
DUTY PRESS OFFICER: For out-of-hours media enquiries, please call 020 7983 4000
@LondonGatewayUK