The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani), with the attendance of Minister of Transport and Logistic Services and Chairman of Mawani Eng. Saleh Al Jasser, today signed an agreement with DP World to establish a new fully-integrated smart logistics park in Jeddah Islamic Port with over SAR 500 million worth of investment from the company, making it the fifth deal following a series of agreements signed with local and global leading companies in maritime transport and logistics including: (Maersk, CMA CGM, LogiPoint, and Bahri). The agreement was signed by President of the Saudi Ports Authority Omar bin Talal Hariri and Group Chairman and CEO of DP World and Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, with the attendance of several leaders from the transport and logistics entity. Eng. Al-Jasser emphasized that signing this agreement aligns with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS) objectives of positioning Saudi Arabia as a global logistics hub, and supports the growth of the logistic services industry on the Red Sea coast. "With the support from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and HRH the Crown Prince, the transport and logistics services entity continues to achieve the development objectives in line with Saudi Vision 2030, by establishing logistics parks that enable the transport and supply chains, following a thorough developmental plan, and strengthening the strategic partnership with the private sector, aiming to increase the attractiveness of investment opportunities in Saudi ports and the maritime transport sector." the minister added, as he commended the remarkable achievement by Saudi ports in the Container Port Performance Index 2021. He pointed out how the Saudi ports have become a prominent location on the global maritime transport map, as they have accomplished a lot of operational and developmental achievements, which contribute to reaching developmental and economic sustainability, enabling trade and investment, along with strengthening the economic growth, all of which will help achieve the strategic objectives and the integration with transport entity, in order to position the Kingdom as an eminent logistics hub internationally. For his part, Hariri stated that the agreement aims to build a logistics park over a total area of 415,000 m2, with a capacity of 250,000 TEU and 100,000 m2 of warehouses area, as it will provide advanced and eco-friendly e-services, and integrate the operations of the south container terminal with the logistics park, which is part of the authority's continuous efforts of providing integrated logistics parks to enhance the competitiveness of Jeddah Islamic Port, and increase the volumes of transshipment cargoes, in line with the objectives of NTLS. As he added that this partnership will connect the port's operations with the logistics park, which will allow for providing integrated logistics services with high level of operational efficiency, as well as expanding cooperation with the largest logistic services providers, and strengthen the reexports operations, in order to deliver the best services for customers and investors. Whereas Group Chairman and CEO of DP World commented: "We are proud and honoured to contribute effectively towards the achievement of Saudi Vision 2030, which includes the development of a prosperous and sustainable maritime transportation ecosystem that supports the Kingdom's socio-economic ambitions and consolidate its status as a global logistics hub. On this occasion, we reiterate our commitment to invest in the modernisation of this facility by providing highest standards of logistics services and technology-enabled trade solutions. We are confident that today's milestone will contribute to increasing efficiency and productivity levels and creating new jobs". "We are committed to enhancing the role and the status of Jeddah's Islamic port, which is strategically located on the Red Sea and has historically played a pivotal role in facilitating the movement of trade between the East and the West," Bin Sulayem added. The Saudi Ports Authority has recently signed a number of strategic agreements with local and international partners to establish integrated logistics parks, with over SAR 2 billion worth of investments, which will contribute to making Saudi ports the preferred destination for global investments and trade, as well as achieving the economic ambitions, along with supporting the GDP and inter-trade between Saudi Arabia and countries around world.
