Last Updated: May 03, 2011 <strong>Abu Dhabi's future economy takes shape at free zone</strong> The planned Khalifa Industrial Zone of Abu Dhabi, a huge infrastructure project combining onshore manufacturing and a port, is designed to be a major plank in the emirate's diversification of its economy away from oil and gas. <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/industry-insights/economics/abu-dhabis-future-economy-takes-shape-at-free-zone">Read article</a> <strong>Capital's 'Kizad' free zone fires interest</strong> Abu Dhabi Ports Company is seeing strong interest in industrial firms looking to set up facilities at the Kizad project in Taweelah. <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/industry-insights/economics/capitals-kizad-free-zone-fires-interest">Read article</a> <strong>Khalifa Port will help take strain of rise in shipments </strong>Mina Zayed Port and Musaffah ports are expected to handle 30 per cent more shipments this year. <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/industry-insights/economics/khalifa-port-will-help-take-strain-of-rise-in-shipments">Read article</a> <strong>Abu Dhabi's huge venture to bring in $40bn </strong>Kizad is set to play a central role in transforming Abu Dhabi's economy from a reliance on hydrocarbons <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/industry-insights/economics/abu-dhabis-huge-venture-to-bring-in-40bn">Read article</a> <strong>Tony Douglas, the chief executive of the Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC)</strong> "The Abu Dhabi economic strategy takes an economy which is US$118 billion [Dh433.4bn], which is 60 per cent or more of oil and gas, on a journey by 2030 to an economy that will be approximately $416bn where the percentage split is the other way around, with 60 per cent coming from non-oil and gas. "We have some very clear numbers that we are responsible [for] delivering for the Abu Dhabi 2030 economic vision … Kizad has the capacity to contribute up to 15 per cent of non-oil and gas GDP by 2030, and we will create in excess of 100,000 quality jobs. "Khalifa Port will be the first port in the Middle East region that has an automated container yard. It will be the first port in the region with direct rail access to the port island - the container yard will be linked with Etihad Rail. And it will be the first region in the have port-to-ship power connectivity." <strong>Capt Mohamed al Shamsi, the vice president of ports at ADPC</strong> Phase 1A of Kizad, which is 51 square km, will need more than Khalifa Port to support it … there are two major ports in the vicinity and three international airports to support Kizad. Khalifa Port is a destination port to capture the organic growth of Abu Dhabi for container cargo.