The President of Saudi Ports Authority Dr. Khaled bin Ahmed Bubshait has pointed out that the authority is working to be a public body enjoying financial and administrative independence operating on a commercial basis in implementation of the Cabinet's decision on reviewing the Authority's organizational structure. In a press statement on the occasion of the First Saudi International Forum on Ports and Maritime Transportation to be held in Jeddah on Sunday, he noted the issuance of a royal order on assigning the private sector to perform all acts of operation, maintenance and management of the Authority in a lease method in a public competition. Dr. Bubshait added that the Authority concluded 27 contracts with the private sector for the operation, management and maintenance of piers and marine plants and equipment in all ports of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He stressed that the total expenditure spent by the state to establish and develop the ports amounted to nearly SR 38 billion.
