
Noting the Kingdom’s role in enhancing the efficiency of Global Supply Chains, through high logistical capabilities, Al-Jasser inaugurates the activities of the Supply Chains Conference 2024.
The Kingdom will continue to enhance its logistical capabilities to facilitate exporting movement and support supply chains.

His Excellency the Minister of Transport and Logistic Services, Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, inaugurated today, Sunday, the activities of the Supply Chains Conference 2024, which is hosted by the Hilton Granada Hotel in the capital, Riyadh, in the presence of Their Excellencies the Ministers, senior officials, and heads of companies operating in the supply chains and logistic services sector, with the participation of international and local organizations, in addition to heads of bodies and institutions in promising fields from both the public and private sectors.
In his speech during the opening ceremony, His Excellency the Minister of Transport and Logistic Services said: “The sixth edition of the Supply Chain Conference comes in light of the prosperity and great growth witnessed by the logistic services sector and the supply chain movement in the Kingdom, thanks to the unlimited support that the transportation and logistics services system receives from the wise leadership, to achieve the ambitions and aspirations that embrace the sky, inspired by the directives of my master, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and His Highness, my master, the Crown Prince – may God protect them.”

His Excellency added: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with the support of the wise leadership, has maintained its readiness in global supply chains through the significant development witnessed by the logistics sector, which has played a major and distinctive role during the challenges and crises that the world has witnessed and is witnessing in multiple places,” stressing that the Kingdom has played an effective role in enhancing the efficiency of global supply chains and establishing the necessary components to ensure the flow of goods and commodities in the region, by taking advantage of its strong and growing logistical capabilities including an advanced network of regional and international airports, a solid chain of highly efficient ports with high performance, and modern networks of railways and advanced roads which contribute to accelerating shipping, handling, export movement and connectivity in global markets.

His Excellency the Minister of Transport and Logistic Services stated that during the current year 2024, the Kingdom continued its progress in the international classification in handling the number of containers. The Kingdom’s ports recorded an additional 231.7 points in the maritime navigation network connectivity index according to the UNCTAD report during 2024. 30 new shipping lines was added since the beginning of 2024, which reflects the Kingdom’s major role in facilitating the movement of global trade and supporting the logistics services sector, noting that the launch of the general plan for logistics centers, as well as the national initiative for supply chains by His Highness the Crown Prince – may God protect him – reflects the great interest that this strategic sector receives from the wise leadership.
He noted that due to such support, the Kingdom has succeeded – praise be to God – in enhancing its logistical capabilities to support the national economy. Major international companies have continued their interest in investing in the logistics sector, from the local and global private sector, to invest and establish a number of logistics areas by signing contracts to establish 18 logistics areas in ports, with total investments exceeding 10 billion Riyals.

His Excellency stressed that the Kingdom will continue to enhance its logistical capabilities to facilitate exporting movement and support supply chains. It will also continue to progress in the global logistical performance indicators, enhance maritime shipping lines, expand air freight movement, increase rail freight rates via trains, activate logistical centers to support sustainable development, and consolidate the Kingdom’s position as a global logistical center and a vital link in global supply chains.
The opening session witnessed a ministerial discussion panel, in which His Excellency the Minister of Transport and Logistic Services, His Excellency the Minister of Investment, and His Excellency the Minister of Industry participated. It was entitled: “The Role of Logistics Prosperity in Enhancing Supply Chain Business and Achieving Global Competitiveness.”
The conference also witnessed the signing of 86 agreements on the sidelines of its activities, with the aim of enhancing the performance of supply chains. The conference included 12 keynote lectures, an accompanying exhibition that included 65 international and local companies in addition to 8 specialized workshops. It also featured an entrepreneurship corner, and an innovation corner that includes technologies such as the launch of a solar-powered car, and unified platforms used by e-commerce business owners and retailers to deliver shipments. The innovation corner aims to empower operational teams by managing harmonious sales channels, warehouse management and shipping companies.

The Kingdom plays an active role at the global level in the logistics and supply chains sector, as the sector has witnessed the implementation of a package of structural reforms and operational achievements during the past period, in order to achieve the targets of the National Strategy for Transport and Logistic Services whereas the Kingdom jumped 17 ranks in the World Bank’s Global Logistics Index. Major global logistics companies have invested in Saudi ports due to their strategic and economic attractiveness, which enhances the efficiency of the logistics sector and supply chains in the Kingdom.
Worth mentioning is that the conference hosts an elite group of international experts and specialists, with the aim of presenting experiences on the best methods and latest practices to improve the performance of supply chains and raise their efficiency. The conference program also includes a group of dialogue sessions, in addition to accompanying workshops and the entrepreneurship corner. A platform was also developed in order to empower Saudi women in the supply chain sector. Such platforms provide training and development opportunities to enhance women’s contribution to the Saudi economy and open new horizons for them in vital fields.