(L-R): HRH the Hereditary Grand Duke; Minister Étienne Schneider; HRH the Hereditary Grand Duchess; Sheikh Khaled Al Quasimi, fils du ruler de RAK; Abdallah Massaad, CEO RAK Ceramics; Credit: © SIP / Jean-Christophe Verhaegen, tous droits réservés

On the last day of the trade mission to the United Arab Emirates chaired by HRH the Hereditary Grand Duke, accompanied by HRH the Hereditary Grand Duchess and headed by Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Étienne Schneider, the official delegation visited the production site of RAK Porcelain in Ras al-Kaimah.

Specialising in the manufacture of porcelain for the hotel and catering industry, the company is a subsidiary of the RAK Ceramics Group, one of the largest ceramic brands in the world employing a total of 15,000 people. At its site in Ras al-Kaimah, RAK Porcelain produces the signature mugs of the Grand Duchy with the slogan "Let's make it happen" which accompanies the international communication of the country.

Since 2006, RAK Porcelain Europe SA has been based in Windhof, Luxembourg, where it operates a logistics platform to serve its customers in many countries in Europe. Employing 60 people, the site also hosts the European headquarters and the RAK Porcelain showroom.

During the visit of the official delegation to Ras al-Kaimah on 12 October 2017, a logistics investment project in Luxembourg was announced. As the storage area on the current site in Windhof is at its maximum capacity, the project involves the construction of a "multifunctional" building in the "Krakelshaff" zone in Bettembourg with a surface area of ​​5,500 m2 for one new distribution centre, offices and the showroom of the European headquarters.

RAK Porcelain's new European distribution centre will enable the company to consolidate all its logistics activities under one roof, such as the receipt of 11 million finished porcelain products shipped annually from the Ras al-Kaimah plant to Luxembourg. RAK Porcelain Europe CEO Claude Peiffer said: "The logistics investment project confirms and strengthens RAK Porcelain's strategic position in Luxembourg as part of its activities and development in Europe. The cost of the investment is estimated at €7.5 million. The project will eventually create an additional 12 jobs."

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Étienne Schneider said: "The international development of RAK Porcelaine from Luxembourg confirms the strengths of the Grand Duchy as a major logistical platform located at the centre of Europe with advanced infrastructure and competitive qualities across all modes of transport."